Ranit Kr. Singh , Kolkata - Following the Calcutta High Court's decision to uphold a ban on slaughtering cattle and buffalo without a mandatory fitness certificate, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh questioned the Central government's policy inconsistency regarding animal slaughter. He argued that the ban selectively targetting West Bengal severely harms local livelihoods, businesses, and the regional economy. Highlighting that the Central government continues to profit from exporting these products, Ghosh asked why the administration does not implement a comprehensive ban on exports as well.

The political friction intensified after the Calcutta High Court refused to stay the West Bengal government's strict directives under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950. Reissued ahead of the Id-Uz-Zuha celebrations, the regulation mandates that public slaughtering is strictly prohibited and animals can only be slaughtered at designated municipal facilities. Furthermore, a written fitness certificate can only be issued jointly by a Municipality Chairperson or Panchayat Samiti President along with a Government Veterinary Officer, verifying that the animal is over 14 years old and unfit for work or breeding.

Criticizing the financial discrepancies of the current rules, Ghosh remarked to ANI that if slaughterhouses and central exports continue to generate foreign exchange, it is unjust to enforce localized restrictions exclusively in Bengal. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi, noted that the state must endeavor to implement the 1950 Act in its true spirit, observing that cow sacrifice is not a religious requirement under Islam. However, regional leaders continue to raise alarms over the heavy economic devastation this policy brings to people dependent on the trade.