West Bengal Imposes Strict Restrictions on Cow and Buffalo Slaughter

The newly elected BJP government in India’s West Bengal has introduced strict restrictions on the slaughter of cattle and other specified livestock, while also banning animal slaughter in public places across the state.The directive was issued on May 13 by the Home & Hill Affairs Department of the Government of West Bengal under the “West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950.”According to the public notice, no bull, bullock, cow, calf, buffalo, or castrated buffalo can be slaughtered without obtaining a fitness certificate jointly approved by local authorities and a government veterinary surgeon.Under the new rules, an animal can only be considered fit for slaughter if it is over 14 years old and no longer suitable for breeding or work. Animals suffering from permanent disability, severe injury, deformity, or incurable disease may also qualify for approval.The government has further directed that approved animals may only be slaughtered in municipal slaughterhouses or locations designated by local authorities. Slaughtering animals in open or public places has been declared strictly prohibited.Authorities including municipal chairpersons, panchayat officials, and government veterinary officers have been empowered to inspect premises to ensure compliance with the law. Obstructing such inspections will also be treated as a violation.Violators may face up to six months in prison, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both, according to the notification. The move comes shortly after the BJP assumed power in West Bengal, marking a significant policy shift that is expected to trigger political and social debate across the state.