R.1 Short title and commencement

       .—(1) These rules may be called the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001.
       (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
       
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        1. Vide S.O. 270(E), dated 26th March, 2001, published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Pt. II,Sec. 3(ii), dated 26th March, 2001.

R.2 Definitions

       In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—
       (a) “Act” means the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960);
       (b) “slaughter” means the killing or destruction of any animal for the purpose of food and includes all the processes and operations performed on all such animals in order to prepare it for being slaughtered;
       (c) “slaughter house” means a slaughter house wherein 10 or more than 10 animals are slaughtered per day and is duly licensed or recognised under a Central, State or Provincial Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder;
       (d) “veterinary doctor” means a person registered with the Veterinary Council of India established under the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (52 of 1984).

R.3 Animals not to be slaughtered except in recognised or licensed houses

       (1) No person shall slaughter any animal within a municipal area except in a slaughter house recognised or licensed by the concerned authority empowered under the law for the time being in force to do so.
       (2) No animal which,—
       (i) is pregnant, or
       (ii) has an offspring less than three months old, or
       (iii) is under the age of three months, or
       (iv) has not been certified by a veterinary doctor that it is in a fit condition to be slaughtered,
       shall be slaughtered.
       (3) The municipal or other local authority specified by the Central Government for this purpose shall, having regard to the capacity of the slaug

R.4 Reception area or resting grounds

       (1) The slaughter house shall have a reception area of adequate size sufficient for livestock subject to veterinary inspection.
       (2) The veterinary doctor shall examine thoroughly not more than 12 animals in an hour and not more than 96 animals in a day.
       (3) The veterinary doctor after examining the animal shall issue a fitness certificate in the form specified by the Central Government for this purpose.
       (4) The reception area of slaughter house shall have proper ramps for direct unloading of animals from vehicles or railway wagons and the said reception area shall have adequate facility sufficient for feeding and watering of animals.
       (5) Separate isolation pens shall be provided in slaughter house with watering and feeding arrangements for anima

R.5 Lairages

       (1) Every animal after it has been subject to veterinary inspection shall be passed on to a lairage for resting for 24 hours before slaughter.
       (2) The lairage of the slaughter house shall be adequate in size sufficient for the number of animals to be laired.
       (3) The space provided in the pens of such lairage shall be not less than 2.8 sq.mt. per large animal and 1.6 sq.mt. per small animal.
       (4) The animals shall be kept in such lairage separately depending upon their type and class and such lairage shall be so constructed as to protect the animals from heat, cold and rain.
       (5) The lairage shall have adequate facilities for watering and post-mortem inspection.

R.6 Slaughter

       (1) No animal shall be slaughtered in a slaughter house in sight of other animals
       (2) No animal shall be administered any chemical, drug or hormone before slaughter except drug for its treatment from any specific disease or ailment.
       (3) The slaughter halls in a slaughter house shall provide separate sections of adequate dimensions sufficient for slaughter of individual animals to ensure that the animal to be slaughtered is not within the sight of other animals.
       (4) Every slaughter house as soon as possible shall provide a separate space for stunning of animals prior to slaughter, bleeding and dressing of the carcasses.
       (5) Knocking section in slaughter house may be so planned as to suit the animal and particularly the ritual slaughter, if any an

R.7 Slaughter house building

       The different construction of a slaughter house shall be built and maintained by its owner in the manner as specified below, namely:—
       (a) Plant Building.—(i) Materials used shall be impervious, easily cleansable, and resistant to wear and corrosion. (ii) Materials such as wood, plaster board, and porous acoustic-type boards, which are absorbent and difficult to keep clean shall not be used;
       (b) Floors.—The floors shall be non-absorbent and non-slippery with rough finish and shall have suitable gradient for drainage;
       (c) Coves.— Coves with radii sufficient to promote sanitation shall be installed at the juncture of floors and walls, in all rooms and which shall not be less than 100 mm;
       (d) Interior Walls.—(i) Interior walls shall be smooth and

R.8 Engagement in slaughter house

       .—(1) No owner or occupier of a slaughter house shall engage a person for slaughtering animals unless he possesses a valid license or authorisation issued by the municipal or other local authority.
       (2) No person who has not attained the age of 18 years shall be employed in any manner in a slaughter house.
       (3) No person who is suffering from any communicable or infectious disease shall be permitted to slaughter an animal.

R.9 Inspection of slaughter house

       (1) The Animal Welfare Board of India or any person or Animal Welfare Organisation authorised by it may inspect any slaughter house without notice to its owner or the person incharge of it at any time during the working hours to ensure that the provisions of these rules are being complied with.
       (2) The person or the Animal Welfare Organisation authorised under sub-rule (1) shall after inspection send its report to Animal Welfare Board of India as well as to the municipal or local authority for appropriate action including initiation of legal proceedings if any, in the event of violation of any provisions of these rules.