The Delhi High Court has asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to close all unlicensed meat shops in the capital within four weeks. Justice Vijender Jain said that such shops maintain poor hygiene and hence the meat they sell poses a health risk.
The court said this while dealing with a petition by young Qureshis Front, which sought to prevent the slaughter of buffaloes, goats and sheep at places other than the designated slaughter houses saying it poses a serious health hazard. Despite the fact that operating unlicensed meat shops violated the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, such shops and kiosks are running all over Delhi. It was MCD's duty not to allow any meat shop to operate without a license under the act, the judge said while directing the Corporation to close all such outlets within four weeks.

The court also told the secretary of the committee formed for monitoring animal slaughter, under the chairmanship of Mr J D Jain, to report the compliance of the order.

He ordered the MCD and the police to provide all necessary help to the secretary, additional district judge C K Chaturvedi, to undertake his work.
Bureau Report