Bombay HC Disposes PIL On Illegal Meat Shops Near Airports, Cites Pending Cases On Aviation Safety

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking enforcement of aviation safety rules that prohibit illegal slaughterhouses, meat and fish shops, and non-vegetarian markets within a 10-km radius of the city’s airports.

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne noted that similar issues are already pending before the court in two other petitions. “Needless to state that the issue raised by petitioner in this petition is already sub judice and another PIL of the same issue cannot be entertained,” the court said.

The PIL was filed by Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangh, an animal rights organisation founded by Mahatma Gandhi. It urged the court to form a committee to monitor illegal facilities near airports and report the findings.

The plea highlighted that bird hits are a major risk factor for aircraft safety, and that the presence of meat and fish markets close to airports increases the chances of such incidents.

It alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had violated safety regulations by issuing hundreds of permits for goat slaughtering during Bakrid in 2024 and 2025 — some as close as 2.5 km from the airports.

The petitioners argued that despite multiple FIRs against owners of such illegal units, operations continued unchecked. They claimed that the BMC and other authorities had failed to act even after repeated complaints and clear evidence of violations.

The PIL sought urgent directions to shut down all illegal meat-related establishments within the restricted zone and to bar the BMC from issuing any licenses—temporary or permanent—for such activities in the future.