THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION Nos.28707 of 2008 and 842 of 2009 COMMON ORDER: These two writ petitions arise out of the action initiated by the authorities of the Revenue Department of Vizianagaram District and those of Vizianagaram Municipality. The petitioners are the Traders in beef. The slaughtering of animals used to be undertaken in a slaughter-house within the limits of Vizianagaram Municipality. That was closed in the year 2001 and thereafter, the petitioners were carrying on the activity within the limits of K.L.Puram Village, Vizianagaram. However, the village is said to have been merged within the limits of Municipality. On receiving the complaints from different quarters that the slaughtering activity is being carried on without any permission and that it is causing health hazards, the District Legal Services Authority, Vizianagaram initiated steps and ultimately, the petitioners were prevented from undertaking the activity. It is also stated that the building constructed by the petitioners was dismantled. The assertion of the petitioners is that the Municipality is under obligation to provide for slaughter-houses, under Section 271 of the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act (for short ‘the Act’) and they seek appropriate directions in this regard. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned Government Pleader for Revenue, the learned Standing Counsel for the Municipality and the learned counsel for the seventh respondent in W.P.No.28707 of 2008. It is not in dispute that the animals can be slaughtered only in the premises approved by the Municipality and Health Department. Adequate care and caution need to be taken to ensure that the activity does not lead to health hazards or nuisance to the local residents. In case it is located in the villages, the interests of the neighbouring farmers are also to be protected. It is only when applications are made by the petitioners to the authorities concerned, that necessary verification in this regard would be undertaken, duly calling for the objections from the affected parties. The record does not disclose that the petitioners have made any formal applications. Therefore, the writ petitions are disposed of, directing that it shall be open to the petitioners to make applications to the District Administration as well as Vizianagaram Municipality to grant permission for establishing slaughter-house, under Section 272 of the Act. As and when such applications are filed, the authority concerned shall examine them, with reference to the relevant provisions of law and pass appropriate orders, duly inviting objections from the affected parties. This exercise shall be completed, within a period of two (2) months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. _____________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:29.01.2009 kdl