Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Union Territory government has strongly taken up with the Punjab Government the issue of taxation on mutton dealers from Jammu and Kashmir, describing the levy as “completely unjust.”
The Chief Minister of has formally written to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, seeking his urgent intervention to stop the unauthorized collection of payments on livestock transport vehicles transiting through Punjab.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event at SKICC in Srinagar, Abdullah said he had personally raised the matter with the Punjab Chief Minister several months ago and has again written to the Punjab Government seeking an early resolution.
The Chief Minister said mutton traders from Jammu and Kashmir purchase livestock from Rajasthan and transport it to the Union Territory through Punjab, using only the state’s highways without conducting any commercial transactions there.
“Our mutton dealers should not be punished for simply using the highway. This tax is completely unjust for our people,” Abdullah said.He maintained that there is no justification for imposing such charges when traders are neither purchasing nor selling livestock within Punjab.Describing the levy as an “illegal tax,” Abdullah said the Jammu and Kashmir Government hopes the issue will be resolved through dialogue with the Punjab Government.
However, he warned that if the matter remains unresolved, it will be raised before the North Zone Council and the Central Government for appropriate intervention.“We hope justice will be done. If not, we will pursue the matter at every appropriate forum,” the Chief Minister said.
In his communication (Letter No. PS/HCM/D.O/2026/104), Chief Minister Abdullah highlighted grievances raised by the All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Union regarding harassment faced by traders. Despite possessing valid documentation, J&K-bound vehicles are reportedly being stopped by certain groups and forced to make substantial, unauthorised payments.
An internal inquiry by the J&K Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs looked into the matter and their findings indicate that transporters are reportedly being compelled to make substantial payments per vehicle during transit without any apparent legal sanction. The committee further determined that livestock movement is exempt from GST and that the continued imposition of such charges is placing an additional burden on the livestock trade, with
consequential impact on meat prices and consumers in Jammu & Kashmir.
Emphasizing the traditional economic interdependence and friendship between the two regions, the Chief Minister requested immediate measures to ensure the smooth, secure, and unhindered movement of transport vehicles. He urged the Punjab government to institute strict safeguards, especially ahead of the upcoming cattle fair tendering process, to prevent any further financial losses and hardship to the trading community.
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