The West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950

West Bengal Act XXII of 1950 
THE WEST BENGAL ANIMAL SLAUGHTER CONTROL 
ACT, 1950. 
[Passed by the West Bengal Legislature.] 
[Assent of the Governor was first published in the Calcutta Gazette, of the 6th April, 1950.] 
An Act to control the slaughter of certain animals. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to control the slaughter of cer-
tain animals with a view to increase the supply of milk and 
to avoid the wastage of animal power necessary for improve-
ment of agriculture; 
It is hereby enacted as follows :- 
1. (1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Animal Short 
Slaughter Control Act, 1950. 	 title, 
extent and (2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal. 	 commence-
ment. 
Application 
of Act. 
(3) It shall come into force on such date or dates as the 
State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for 
different parts of West Bengal. 
2. This Act applies to the animals specified in the Schedule. 
Ben. Act 
UT of 
1923. 
3. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the Definitions. subject or context,— 
(i) "animal" means an animal to which this Act 
applies; 
(ii) "Calcutta" has the same meaning as in clause (11) 
of section 3 of the Calcutta Municipal Act, 1923; 
(iii) "President of a municipality" means any person 
presiding over the affairs of any municipal autho-
rity by whatever name he may be called, and 
includes any person nominated by him for the 
purposes of this Act; 
(iv) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under 
this Act; 
(v) "Veterinary Assistant Surgeon" means,— 
(a) in areas other than Calcutta, a Veterinary Assist-
ant Surgeon, and 
(b) in Calcutta, a Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of 
the West Bengal Civil Veterinary Department 
acting within the local limits of his jurisdic-
tion, and 
(vi) "Veterinary Officer" means,— 
(a) in areas other than Calcutta, a District Veterinary Officer, and 
(b) in Calcutta, a Superintendent of Veterinary 
Services (Headquarters) of the West Bengal 
Civil Veterinary Department acting within the 
local limits of his jurisdiction. 
Price—Indian, annas 2; English, 3d. 
2 The West Bengal Anima Slaughter Control Act, 1950. 
Med Ben. Act 
(Sections 4-6.) 
Prohibition 	 4. (1) Notwithstanding anything in any other law for 
of f 	 • the time being in force or in any usage to the contrary, no 
slaughter person shall slaughter any animal unless he has obtained in 
of animal respect thereof a certificate under sub-section (2) or sub- 
without 	 section (3) that the animal is fit for slaughter. 
certificate. 
(2) The President of a municipality and the Veterinary 
Assistant Surgeon may issue a certificate under their joint 
signatures that an animal fit for slaughter if they are both 
of opinion (which shall be recorded) that— 
(a) the animal is over fourteen years of age and unfit 
for work or breeding, or 
(b) the animal has become permanently incapacitated 
from work or breeding due to age, injury, 
deformity or any incurable disease. 
(3) Where there is a difference of opinion between the 
President of a municipality and the Veterinary Assistant 
Surgeon as to the issue of a certificate under sub-section (2), 
the matter shall be referred to the Veterinary Officer and a 
certificate shall be issued or refused according as the 
Veterinary Officer is of opinion that the animal is fit to be 
slaughtered or is not so fit. 
(4) Where under sub-section (3) a certificate is issued or 
refused, the order granting or refusing the issue of the 
certificate shall be signed by the Veterinary Officer. 
(6) Any person aggrieved by the refusal to issue a certi-
ficate under this section may, within fifteen days from the 
date of communication to him of such refusal, appeal to the 
State Government against the order of refusal, and the 
State Government may pass such orders thereon as it thinks 
fit. 
(6) The State Government may, at any timefor the 
purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality or propriety 
of any action taken under this section, call for and examine 
the record of any case, and may pass such orders thereon as 
it thinks 6t. 
(7) Subject to the provisions of this section, any action 
taken under this section shall be final and shall not be called 
in question in any court. 
Prohibition 	
5. No animal in respect of which a certificate has been 
of 	 issued under section 4 shall be slaughtered in any place other 
' taught" 	 than a place prescribed in this behalf. 
of animals 
in places 
not 
prescribed 
for the 
6. (1) For the purpose of enforcing 	 provisions of purpose. 	 the 
Power to 	 this Act, the President of a municipality or the Veterinary 
enter and Assistant Surgeon or any person, authorised by the 
inspect premises. Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in writingises in this behalf 
the local 
, shall 
have power to enter and inspect any prem n  
limits of his jurisdiction where he has reason to believe that 
an offence under .;this Act has bean or is likely to be 
committed. 
k 
The West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950. 3 
XXII of 1950.] 
(Sections 7-14.) 
(2) Every person in occupation of any such premises as 
is specified in sub-section (1) shall allow the President of a 
municipality, the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon or the person 
authorised, as the case may be, such access to the premises as 
he may require for the aforesaid purpose, and shall answer 
any question put to him by the President of a municipality, 
the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon or the person authorised, as 
the case may be, to the best of his knowledge or belief. 
7. Whoever contravenes any of the provisions contained Penalties. 
in this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term 
which may extend to six months, or with fine which may 
extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. 
8. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of 
Act V 	 Criminal Procedure, 1898, all offences under this Act shall of 1898. 	 be cognizable. 
Act XLV 
of 1860. 
9. Whoever abets any offence punishable under this 
Act or attempts to commit any such offence shall be punished 
with the punishment provided in this Act for such offence. 
10. All Presidents of municipalities, Veterinary Assist-
ant Surgeons, Veterinary Officers and other persons exercising 
powers under this Act shall be deemed to be public servants 
within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code. 
11. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall 
be instituted against any person for anything which is in 
good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or the 
rules made thereunder. 
Abetmen.ts 
and 
attempts. 
Officers 
exercising 
powers 74 
under thist4 
Act deemed 
to be public 
servants. 
Protection 
of persons 
acting in 
good faith. 
• 12. The State Government may, by general or 
special order and subject to such conditions as it may think 
fit to impose, exempt from the operation of this Act the 
slaughter of any animal for any religious, medicinal or 
research purposes. 
13. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate to any officer of State Government 
all or any of its powers or functions under sub-sections (5) and (6) of section 4, or section 12. 
14. (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality 
of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for— 
(a) the form and manner in which applications for 
certificates under section 4 shall be made; 
(b) the fees payable for any certificate which may be 
issued under section 4 and the form of such certificates; 
Power to 
grant 
exemp-
tions. 
Delegation 
of func-
tions. 
Power to 
make rules. 
Offences to 
be cogni-
zable. 
k 
4 	 The West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950. 
[West Ben. Act XXII of 1950.] 
(The Schedule.) 
(c) the places in which animals may be slaughtered in 
pursuance of this Act; 
(d) the conditions subject to which the slaughter of any 
animal may be permitted under section 12. 
The Schedule. 
(See section 2.) 
Bulls. 
Bullocks. 
Cows. 
Calves. 
Male and female buffaloes 
Buffalo calves. 
Castrated buffaloes. 
WBGP-5011-1905A-4,500 

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