The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, ruled that no animal can be sold in West Bengal without a valid licence, delivering a significant directive that affects hundreds of traders operating across the state. The order, issued in a suo motu matter, makes licence compliance a precondition for any animal trading activity, including at Kolkata's well-known Galiff Street pet market.

Key Directions from the Court

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai directed the state government to verify whether traders hold valid licences before permitting any animal sales to resume. The court observed that animal trade may continue at Galiff Street and other locations across the state, but only in strict compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and other applicable regulations.

All parties have been asked to file a status report by 14 October. The bench also flagged that traders had encroached upon public footpaths, causing inconvenience to pedestrians, and questioned the near-total absence of regulatory oversight in the market.

What Traders Argued

Counsel appearing for traders at Galiff Street submitted that the nature of their business — including the sale of ornamental fish, dogs, and plants — did not require licences, and that more than 600 traders had been operating at the market for many years. The counsel contended that no rare or protected species were being sold, and suggested that Forest Department officials be deployed alongside police to monitor for any illegal trade.

Traders also requested interim permission to continue operations the following Sunday, arguing that police inspections had effectively brought all business to a halt. However, the court did not grant blanket interim relief, instead reiterating that trade would be permitted only after valid licences were secured.

State Admits Zero Licence Compliance

Counsel for the state administration, Saikat Banerjee, informed the court that none of the traders currently operating in these markets hold a licence issued by the State Animal Welfare Board. This admission of zero compliance across the board underscored the scale of the regulatory gap the court is seeking to address.

Background: September Surveillance Order

Tuesday's order is the latest in an ongoing judicial intervention. On 16 September, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Arijit Banerjee had directed heightened surveillance of animal markets across West Bengal, including Galiff Street, to prevent illegal animal sales. That bench had ordered plainclothes police personnel and designated state authorities to conduct joint monitoring and enforcement.

The latest directive escalates that effort by placing a direct compliance burden on traders and the state government ahead of the 14 October report deadline. With hundreds of livelihoods in the balance and wildlife protection laws at stake, the outcome of the next hearing is likely to set a precedent for animal market regulation across the state.