Kolkata, 06 October (H.S.) : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ruled that the sale of animals and birds cannot be permitted without valid statutory licences, directing that commercial activities at Kolkata's prominent Galiff Street pet market and similar establishments across West Bengal must strictly conform to the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Hearing a suo motu public interest litigation, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai instructed the state government to verify whether traders possess valid permits and clearances before allowing any commercial transactions. The bench made it clear that sales can only proceed once formal compliance is established, directing all concerned stakeholders to submit detailed status reports by October 14.

During the proceedings, counsel representing the Galiff Street traders argued that the conventional trade conducted at the market does not mandate licensing, submitting that over 600 merchants have operated there for decades without engaging in the trafficking of rare or endangered species. The counsel suggested stationing forest department personnel alongside police teams to monitor transactions and prevent illicit practices.

Opposing the plea, state counsel Saikat Banerjee submitted that not a single merchant operating in the market possesses a valid licence. He pointed out that while the State Animal Welfare Board is the designated authority for granting such statutory licences, none of the vendors had obtained the mandatory certification.

In response, the traders' counsel sought interim relief to permit trade during the upcoming Sunday market, claiming that persistent administrative interventions had severely disrupted livelihood activities, including the sale of ornamental fish, domestic dogs, and indoor plants.

Refusing to grant interim relief, the Chief Justice expressed strong concern over unchecked urban encroachment, observing that pedestrian pathways throughout the city have been overrun by unlicensed vendors, causing public inconvenience while yielding no municipal revenue. The court ordered that all traders must first secure the prescribed licences from the competent regulatory authorities before the police can permit any animal or bird sales.

Earlier on September 16, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Arijit Banerjee had ordered high-level surveillance across Galiff Street and other animal markets across the state, instructing joint monitoring by plainclothes police personnel and statutory enforcement agencies to eliminate illegal wildlife trade.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh