SHILLONG:
The High Court of Meghalaya has asked the state to prohibit the display of animal carcasses in meat shops in the state.
“The State would do well to set an example and completely prohibit the display of animal carcasses in meat shops, though they may be stored in refrigerators or containers or even in showcases within the premises and not open to public view from outside,” the division bench said in its judgment passed on a PIL filed by the Gau Gyan Foundation.
“Otherwise, the State should ensure the ethical treatment of animals across the board, even those which are culled for human consumption and those which are used as farm animals, including the mode and manner of transportation thereof,” it added.
The state said that detailed measures have been taken in such regard in June, 2022, and repeated instructions have followed.
The petitioner had expressed satisfaction with several of the initiatives and measures taken by the state which had filed a status report in pursuant to order dated May 4, 2023.
In particular, the petitioner expressed gratitude for the state having adopted several of the suggestions made in the detailed reports filed by the petitioner.
The matter pertains to the treatment of animals that are culled for human consumption and the transportation of animals across the state.
Despite there being central enactments and local regulations pursuant to the central enactments, the petitioner had demonstrated that most of the guidelines and norms were not being followed and local level committees were not functional, the bench said adding “Hopefully, such lapses have been taken care of and the State will ensure a more ethical treatment of animals, even if they are culled for human consumption.”
It said that the one aspect that remains is how animal carcasses are brazenly displayed on street side shops, sometimes complete with beheaded pigs in open view.
Upon the state being repeatedly advised that such sight may not be appealing even to the most carnivorous of humans, some measures have been taken to ensure that such displays are restrained and altogether prohibited.
However, on the ground, it does not appear that there has been any effect of any guidelines or instructions issued by the state in such regard.
Street side shops selling meat display animal carcasses with impunity. Apart from the hideous sight, there is also an element of hygiene involved since the meat displayed is open to the grime and dust of the street and may turn quite toxic even before it is sold, it said.
KJP School samples for forensic tests
SHILLONG: The state police have sent samples from the premises of the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Girls Higher Secondary School for forensic examination to ascertain if there was any foul play behind the recent fire incident.
“We have collected samples from the site and sent it to forensic to ascertain if there is any foul play,” SP (City) Vivek Syiem told reporters here on Friday.
He informed that even the fire police are also making inquiries into the incident.
On May 21, the 131-year-old girls’ school was razed to the ground. The Khasi Jaiñtia Presbyterian Girls Higher Secondary School founded in 1892, is an institute much respected and cherished.
Syiem said, “They (school authority) are still allowing us to inquire into the matter if there is something which is actually malafide in any way then we will take up the case.”
When asked about preliminary findings, the SP however said, “It is too premature to say right now. Let the samples come from the FSL then we can say and also from the Fire Service once the report comes then we can at least map out a picture of what really happened.”