New Delhi: Amid the row over halal meat ban in Karnataka, the government is all set to introduce guidelines for the slaughterhouses to adopt the ‘stunning’ method to kill animals.
According to a report by news agency IANS, minister for Animal Husbandry Prabhu Chauhan on Saturday said that he would look into the demand by animal lovers who have written to the department seeking the ‘stunning’ method of slaughtering animals be made mandatory.
Although the government is still issuing diplomatic statements on the matter, as per sources close to IANS, it may soon prepare for the implementation.
However, the southern state, that is already facing the heat due to the call for the halal meat ban, is likely to witness another controversy over the slaughtering guideline that might be implemented soon.
For the unversed, 'stunning' is a process that ensures that the animal is made unconscious to pain before being killed in the slaughterhouse.
Chauhan said that he would take a call on making 'stunning' compulsory in slaughter houses. "Stunning has not been made compulsory as of now and no order as such is being issued from the department. The letter says not to permit halal cuts, I will verify," IANS quoted the minister as saying.
It is to be noted that under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, the central government has recommended a 'stunning' method for the slaughter houses to follow.
Umapathy, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department, has also stated that the department has received several complaints from the animal activists in this regard. However, despite the guideline, the slaughterhouses are still not following the rules, he said.
Violating the rule could lead to registering of case under IPC as well as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Even the public could book a case in this regard. In that case, the shop owners will be fined for the first time and for the second offence, they can be jailed.
Currently, the fine amount is Rs 50, however, it is being appealed to increase it to Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
The present imprisonment period is 6 months to 3 years. There has also been demands to increase the imprisonment period, he Umapathy said.
Although the Karnataka government hasn’t announced anything yet, sources in the BJP said that the party is mulling to make the ‘stunning’ guideline mandatory.
However, if this happens, there would be a huge crisis like situation in the southern state as anything against halal would not go down well with the minorities, the sources further added.