The Jharkhand High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a personal affidavit detailing the action taken in response to its earlier orders, particularly regarding the illegal slaughter and sale of bovine meat in markets like Qureshi Mohalla, Ranchi, where such activity is prohibited under State law.

The direction came from a Division Bench of Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to curb illegal animal culling, including the public display of carcasses, on Ranchi’s roads.

The petition, filed in 2024, specifically highlighted that beef was being openly sold in Doranda’s Qureshi Mohalla, alleging that slaughtering and selling of cow meat was occurring in broad daylight in violation of the Jharkhand Bovine Animal Prohibition of Slaughter Act, 2005. Under Section 12 of the Act, such slaughter is a punishable offence.

In a previous order dated August 7, 2024, the High Court had noted that the State's affidavit made no mention of the Qureshi Mohalla market. The court had then directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ranchi to explain why this omission occurred and to detail steps taken to curb such illegal activities in Doranda and other parts of Ranchi.

During the July 29 hearing, the Bench further directed the DGP to personally clarify whether the August 7 directions had been implemented. Additionally, the State has been asked to respond to the following queries:

1. Whether any violations of the 2005 Act have been reported across Jharkhand.

2. Whether slaughterhouses are mandatory within municipal areas, and whether petty food manufacturers are permitted to carry out slaughter operations.

3. Whether illegal slaughterhouses are currently operating in the state.

4. Whether the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 are being strictly enforced.

5. Whether regular inspections of slaughterhouses are conducted, and to provide documentary proof of such inspections.

6. The current status of criminal cases registered pursuant to earlier court directions.

The court had also asked the SSP Ranchi to provide the number and details of cases filed under Section 12 of the Act, along with any action taken against the Officer-in-Charge of Doranda Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the violations allegedly took place.

The matter will be heard next on August 26.

Case Title: Shyamanand Pandey v. State of Jharkhand & Ors.