New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS): The Delhi High Court was informed on Wednesday by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation that it has been taking action to stop illegal slaughter of animals in a residential area in the capital.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was also informed by the municipal body that its officers have conducted surprise inspection of Qasabpura area during night hours and people involved in illegal slaughter have been penalised.

The municipal body's counsel Monika Arora told the bench that 24 inspections have been made, Rs.4.65 lakh in fine imposed on the defaulters, and one premises has been sealed.

An affidavit by the municipal body said transportation of animals to Qasabpura has to be stopped by police in coordination with the Delhi Society for Prevention of Cruelty in Animals/state animal husbandry department of the Delhi government.

The response of the municipal body came on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO that alleged that in 1995, a judgment was passed and the government and other agencies were directed to frame guidelines for carrying out slaughter of animals and allocate some place other than a residential area.

The plea said the slaughter house in Qasabpura, Idgah Road, was within a residential area and it did not have sufficient facilities required for slaughter of animals, and was declared unfit and directed to be closed down.

Animal slaughter has not stopped and more than 3,000 animals were being illegally slaughtered daily in Qasabpura in connivance with the authorities, it said.

The municipal body denied any connivance in illegal slaughter, and said illegal transportation of animals from the Ghazipur live stock market to Qasabpura was the root cause of illegal slaughter in the area.