Killing animals for meat is cruel and causes a tremendous amount of suffering no matter how ‘humane’ the killing method is; however, until consumer demand for meat ceases, animals must be killed in the least painful manner possible.

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• No pregnant animal may be slaughtered. Every meat animal must be certified healthy and free from disease by a municipal veterinarian before being slaughtered for meat. No cattle under the age of 16 may be killed.

• No animal may be slaughtered except at a municipal or registered slaughterhouse (state municipal acts, e.g., Section 415 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act 1957).

• In localities where a municipal slaughterhouse exists, such as Idgah (in Delhi) or Deonar (in Mumbai), it is illegal for animals to be killed anywhere else (state municipal acts, e.g., Section 407 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act).

• No animal shall be slaughtered in view of another animal.

• Under a notification dated 31st August 1978 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, it is illegal to slaughter or flay animals or to deposit slaughterhouse waste within a radius of 10 km from an airport.

• Under the Water Pollution Act, it is illegal for slaughterhouse waste to be deposited into any water resource.

• No person can, in any public place or public street, carry meat exposed to public view (state municipal acts, e.g., Section 397 of the Delhi Municipal Act).

• No person can sell meat, fish or chicken or use any premises for this purpose unless he has permission from the municipal commissioner. The municipal committee may grant and withdraw licences for the use of such premises, as well as charge rent or fees for the same.

• If it is suspected that any animal available for human consumption is being sold or kept for sale in an unregistered place, the commissioner or anyone authorised by him may at any time of day or night, without notice, enter and inspect such place.

• Anyone who kills or sells any animal without such a licence can have the animal summarily removed, and the shop may be shut down.

• Under the ISI, animals must be rested for 24 hours, given abundant water and rendered unconscious before slaughtering.

• All licensed butcher shops are required to follow the ISI code of health and hygiene standards.

• The butcher shop must have a proper waste disposal facility. Blood and faeces cannot be sent down public drains.

• The Bureau of Indian Standards has established detailed requirements for poultry housing (IS 2732-1985, Code of Poultry Housing).

• If animals are being kept on the premises, they must be provided proper food, water and shelter (shade from the heat and protection from the cold) (PCA, Section 11).

• Keeping chickens in cages is illegal, as it denies them the opportunity to exercise and causes unnecessary suffering (PCA, Section 11).

• Keeping animals constantly tethered or on short ropes or chains is illegal (PCA, Section 11).

• Every slaughterhouse has a maximum number of animals permitted to be slaughtered.

What You Can Do to Stop Illegal Slaughter

• If you see animals such as goats tethered near a meat shop, it is likely that animals are being killed on the premises. If there is a municipal slaughterhouse in the city, it is illegal to kill animals anywhere else. Report it to the local animal protection group and police.

• If you suspect that animals are being illegally slaughtered, ask if the meat shop is licensed by the municipality. If not, report it to the local animal protection group, police and the municipality and try to get it shut down.

• If you have reason to believe that the meat shop is not following prescribed guidelines, you can report it to the police. Under Section 32 of the PCA, any police officer above the rank of sub inspector has the right to enter and search the premises. If possible, you should accompany the police officer and file an FIR. Furthermore, the new Slaughterhouse Rules 2000 state that ‘the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) or any person or animal welfare organisation authorised by it may inspect any slaughterhouse without notice to its owner or the person in charge of it at any time during the working hours to ensure that the provisions of these rules are being complied with.’ It goes on to state, ‘The person or the animal welfare organisation authorised under sub rule (1) shall after inspection send its report to AWBI as well as to the municipal or local authority for appropriate action including initiation of legal proceedings, if any, in the event of violation of any provisions of these rules.’ This is an excellent opportunity for activists and the animal welfare community to help alleviate the suffering of animals killed at municipal, municipally licensed and other facilities.

• Poultry shops that keep hens stuffed in metal cages without food or water are in violation of Section 11 of the PCA. Offenders can be fined Rs 100 and jailed for up to three months. Most neighbourhood poultry shops operate without a licence and can be reported to the local animal protection group, police and municipality and closed down.