On 13th May, the Home & Hill Affairs Department of the Government of West Bengal issued a notice reiterating strict enforcement of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950. The government has made it mandatory to obtain official certification before slaughtering cows, bulls, bullocks, calves, buffaloes and castrated buffaloes. Any violation will attract imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of Rs 1,000, or both.
The West Bengal government has issued a modified notice for the public under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act 1950, saying no cattle or buffalo can be slaughtered without official certification, which declares the animal fit for slaughter. No open public slaughter… pic.twitter.com/cBdYrdRkvW
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2026
In its order, the department cited multiple orders passed by the Calcutta High Court between 2018 and 2022 in connection with the implementation of the law.
Certification mandatory before slaughter
According to the notification, no animal covered under the Act can be slaughtered unless a joint certificate declaring it fit for slaughter is issued by the Chairman of a Municipality or the Sabhapati of a Panchayat Samiti along with a government veterinary surgeon.
The certificate can only be issued if the animal is over 14 years of age and no longer fit for work or breeding, or if it has become permanently incapacitated due to age, injury, deformity or an incurable disease. The reasons must be recorded in writing.
The order further stated that if certification is denied, the aggrieved person can appeal before the state government within 15 days.
Slaughter restricted to authorised facilities
Furthermore, the notification has clarified that even certified animals can only be slaughtered at municipal slaughterhouses or facilities authorised by the local administration. Slaughter in open public places has been strictly prohibited.
The government also empowered authorised officials to inspect premises for implementation of the Act and warned that nobody can obstruct such inspections.
Violations to attract jail term or fine
The state government added that violation of the provisions can attract imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both. All offences under the 1950 Act have been classified as cognizable offences.
The notification comes amid the BJP government’s broader crackdown on illegal cattle slaughter, cattle smuggling, illegal cattle markets and related extortion rackets in the state.
