Assam Cattle Preservation Bill: Beef selling banned in Hindu, Sikh, Jain areas or within a radius of 5-km of temples

The new legislation has included legal provisions to regulate slaughter, consumption, and transportation of cattle in the state.

The bill proposes prohibition of slaughter of cattle in places other than a slaughterhouse, prohibition on sale of beef and beef products.

“No person shall directly or indirectly sale or offer or expose for sale or buy beef or beef products in any form except at places permitted to do so by the competent authority. No such permission shall be granted in such area or areas which are predominately inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or area as may be prescribed by the competent authority,” said in the bill.

The new legislation also said that – “No person shall transport or offer transport or cause to be transported any cattle without valid permit from any place of other state through Assam to any place outside state of Assam, any place within the state of Assam to any place outside the state of Assam where slaughter of cattle is not regulated by law.”

“No person shall transport or offer for transport or cause to be transported any cattle from any place of other state to any place within the state the slaughter whereof is punishable under this act. The competent authority may issue permit for transport of cattle for bona-fide agricultural or animal husbandry purposes as prescribed in the rules framed under this act. The cattle shall be transported in the manner prescribed by the Central Government rules, govering the transport of cattle under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960,” said in the bill.

Violations of the bill could lead to imprisonment for a term which will not less than 3 years and which may extend to 8 years and with fine which will not be less than Rs 3 lakh and may extend to Rs 5 lakh or with both.

The bill is also proposing the establishment of an institution including Gaushals for taking care of cattle.

“The state government may establish or direct any local authority or permit society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1960, or any Central Act or any association or organization to establish an institution including Gaushals at such places as may be deemed necessary for taking care of the cattle to be housed thereto,” said in the bill.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said: “Article 48 of the Constitution of India which enshrines one of the Directive Principles of State Policy lays down that the state shall endeaour to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. In the light of the experience over the years and in view of the shortcomings which have been observed, it is considered that there is an imperative need to enact a legislation to include sufficient legal provisions to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle by repealing the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950. Accordingly it is proposed to enact a legislation to include enough legal provisions to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle.”

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)