The Calcutta High Court has upheld a ban on the slaughter of cattle and buffalo in West Bengal without a mandatory fitness certificate, a decision that has sparked criticism from local political leaders. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh expressed concerns that the ban would adversely affect the livelihoods of those involved in the cattle industry and disrupt the local economy. He questioned the rationale behind the ban, pointing out that while the central government exports beef for foreign exchange, the state has imposed restrictions that do not apply uniformly. The court's ruling reinforces the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act of 1950, which prohibits the slaughter of animals in public spaces and clarifies that cow sacrifice is not a religious necessity during the Id-Uz-Zuha festival. The fitness certificate required for slaughter can only be issued by local officials in conjunction with a government veterinary officer, ensuring that only animals deemed unfit for work or breeding can be slaughtered at designated municipal facilities.