Slaughterhouse in Kamptee: HC raps Principal Secy, summons him on Feb 23
   Date :15-Feb-2024

Slaughterhouse in Kamptee 
 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
 
 
In the Kamptee slaughterhouse case, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has rapped the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD). The court has questioned, why he should not be subjected to an inquiry for failure to provide satisfactory information despite being instructed to facilitate the construction of a slaughterhouse in Kamptee. The Principal Secretary is directed to appear in person or through video-conferencing on the next hearing scheduled for February 23. On Wednesday, the proceedings took place before Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri. In 2013, the High Court had issued an order for the establishment of a slaughterhouse in Kamptee, but the UDD has not followed it. Expressing dissatisfaction over lack of progress, the High Court asked Public Prosecutor Nivedita Mehta to provide any compliance with the court’s instructions. The court also questioned, why charges should not be framed against the Principal Secretary and mandated his presence in the court on February 23.
 
In the previous hearing, the court had summoned the Chairman of Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). Not satisfied with the information provided, the court had warned of summoning the Principal Secretary of the UDD and initiating contempt proceedings. The High Court, disposing of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the All India Jamaitul Qureshi Organisation on March 3, 2016, had ordered immediate construction of a slaughterhouse in Kamptee. However, the order remained unimplemented which lead to the organisation filing a contempt petition in 2018. The reasons for the ongoing delay in construction of the slaughterhouse was not adequately explained. As a result, the court expressed displeasure and considering framing charges against the secretary.
 
Earlier, the High Court had directed the state government and NMRDA to provide concrete information regarding the construction of the slaughterhouse. In response, the Principal Secretary submitted an affidavit detailing the venue but mentioned opposition from local residents and the Gram Panchayat. NMRDA suggested an alternative space verbally, but the lack of written confirmation led the High Court to summon the UDD Principal Secretary. Sr Adv S K Mishra from NMRDA and Mahesh Dhatrak on behalf of Kamptee Nagar Parishad presented their arguments in the case.