Jharkhand HC Directs Framing of Model Regulations for Slaughterhouses Across Urban Local Bodies [Read Order]

RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court, in a recent hearing of W.P. (PIL) No. 5169 of 2023, has directed the State of Jharkhand to frame model regulations governing all urban local bodies, including the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), concerning slaughterhouses. The move aims to curb the menace of illegal slaughterhouses and ensure compliance with existing laws and previous court orders.

The Division Bench comprising Hon’ble the Chief Justice and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Shyamanand Pandey against the State of Jharkhand and others. The Court noted that the respondents were “simply dilly-dallying the implementation of the orders passed by this Court from time to time,” particularly the order dated 19.07.2023 passed in W.P. (C) No. 5175 of 2018, wherein the RMC was directed to frame regulations.

In the earlier judgment (W.P. (C) No. 5175 of 2018), which was reiterated in the present proceedings, the Court had directed as follows:

(ii) The RMC is directed to frame regulations covering the subjects as mentioned in Sections 315 and 327 of the Act, 2011, including making provision for granting licences to private slaughterhouses and obtaining approval thereof from the State Government as mandated under Section 594 of the Act, 2011.
(iv) Till the regulations are finally notified, the members of petitioner no. 1, as well as other mutton sellers carrying on their business after obtaining licence/registration, as the case may be, under the Act, 2006 and the Regulations, 2011, shall not be compelled to get the animals slaughtered at the Municipal Slaughterhouse situated at Kanke, Ranchi.

In its recent order, the High Court highlighted the continued lack of effective steps taken by the respondents. The Secretary, Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare; the Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi; and the Administrator, Ranchi Municipal Corporation were physically present before the Court on 18/19.12.2025 in compliance with an earlier direction.

The officers assured the Court that “the regulations as well as the directions passed by this Court, along with the provisions made in various statutes, would be implemented in letter and spirit, and the regulations as directed by this Court would be formulated within a period of two months from today.”

Taking these statements on record, the Bench observed:

“However, we are of the considered view that the regulations cannot be framed for only one local body, and therefore model regulations need to be framed governing all urban local bodies, including the Ranchi Municipal Corporation.”

The Court further directed the respondents to ensure compliance with the directions that mutton sellers are permitted to carry on their businesses only in terms of registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with the Regulations, 2011. It was further directed that no unauthorised person shall be permitted to sell mutton and that mutton shall be sold only after complying with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughterhouse) Rules, 2001, the Regulations, 2011, particularly Schedule IV of Part IV, in letter and spirit. The Court warned that any violation of these instructions may entail serious consequences.

The matter is now listed for hearing on 27.02.2026.

Case Details:

Case No.: W.P. (PIL) No. 5169 of 2023

Title: Shyamanand Pandey v. State of Jharkhand & Others

Coram: Hon’ble the Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Shankar

Counsels:

For the Petitioner: Mr. Shubham Kataruka, Advocate

For the State: Mr. Rajiv Ranjan, A.G.; Mr. Yogesh Modi, A.C. to A.A.G.-IA

For RMC: Mr. L.C.N. Shahdeo, Advocate; Mr. Yash Raj Gupta, Advocate

For the Intervenors: Mr. Praveen Chandra, Advocate; Mr. Atul Rai, Advocate

[Read Order]