Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Wednesday directed the state govt to place on record its proposed rules and regulations for operating slaughterhouses across the state after being informed that a regulatory framework was being prepared.Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, state counsel sought a month’s adjournment to file the proposed rules and regulations. The counsel told the court that a draft governing the operation of slaughterhouses had already been sent to the finance department for clearance.After the department approves the draft, it will be placed before the state cabinet for approval, the govt counsel said. Taking note of the submission, the court fixed Aug 20 as the next date of hearing and is expected to consider the draft rules then.The matter stems from a public interest litigation filed by Shyamanand Pandey, who alleged that meat was being sold openly in Ranchi in violation of municipal norms. He claimed that illegal butcher shops had mushroomed across the state capital and were selling meat in the open without keeping it behind black glass, as allegedly mandated by municipal rules.The petitioner further alleged that carcasses of dead animals were being hung openly along roads in the state capital, in violation of municipal corporation rules. He also claimed that several shops were operating without licences and functioning freely along roadsides.The court had earlier sought clarification from the state government on the rules and regulations governing the operation of abattoirs in Jharkhand.