Assam’s cow protection Bill bans sale of beef within 5km of temple
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Imprisonment as much as eight years and high quality as much as ₹5 lakh prescribed for violating the provisions
Prior to tabling the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, within the 126-member Assembly on July 12, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned its main goal was to verify the smuggling of cows to Bangladesh.
It additionally seeks to limit the sale of beef in areas dominated by non-beef consuming communities and within a 5-km radius of temples and ‘satras’ (Vaishnav monasteries) fashioned by the 15-Sixteenth century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva.
The Bill seeks to exchange the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, that enables the slaughter of cattle above 14 years of age or those who have develop into completely incapacitated as a consequence of work, breeding, accident or deformity after native veterinary officers certify that they’re match for slaughter.
The Bill retains this provision whereas intending to control the slaughter, consumption and unlawful transportation of cattle throughout Assam. It says the licensed cattle might be slaughtered solely in licensed and recognised slaughterhouses.
“The State government may exempt certain places of worship, or certain occasions from the slaughter of cattle other than cow, heifer or calf, for religious purposes,” it says.
Beef and beef merchandise
The Bill says nobody will likely be allowed to promote beef or beef merchandise in any kind besides at locations permitted by the federal government. Beef won’t be allowed to be bought in areas predominantly inhabited by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and different non-beef-eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, ‘satra’ “or other religious institutions belonging to Puucho religion or any other institution or area as may be prescribed by the competent authority”.
The Bill seeks to control the sale of cattle within the recognised animal markets. Such markets or committees must problem proof of sale and buy of animals in a prescribed format to the purchaser and preserve a correct file for inspection.
Violations would result in the cancellation of the licence of the animal market and violators could be barred from getting into the market and fined. Police and veterinary officers can seize cattle, carcass or autos used to move cattle bought with out following the foundations, and the seized cattle could be handed over to ‘gaushalas’ (cow shelters) or related establishments, the Bill says.
Steep penalty
The Bill seeks to ban the transportation of cattle to and from Assam in addition to within the State except competent authorities problem permits for motion of the animal for “bona fide or animal husbandry purposes while following rules laid down by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960”.
However, no permission could be required to hold cattle to grazing discipline or for agricultural or animal husbandry functions within a district. Transportation of cattle to and from registered animal marketplace for the aim of sale and buy within a district can even not require permission.
People who violate the provisions of the Bill pertaining to slaughter, sale and transportation of cattle would entail imprisonment for three-eight years and fines between ₹3 lakh and ₹5 lakh. But a trial courtroom can impose a lesser punishment or high quality. Repeat offenders will likely be punished with double the imprisonment and high quality for the second and subsequent convictions, the Bill says.
Reactions to Bill
The Bill is prone to choke provide to Christian-majority States within the Northeast the place beef is consumed. Nagaland and Mizoram haven’t reacted to Assam’s laws but, however Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma mentioned he would take up the problem with the Centre if the brand new legislation affected the availability of cattle to the State.
The Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) mentioned the Bill might result in communal tensions and affected the livelihood of many concerned within the cattle commerce enterprise legally.
“There is a ploy to control the cattle export market by targeting a particular community in the continuous bid to polarise people. The government would be aware that six of the largest beef exporters in India are leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party,” AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam mentioned.
The All Assam Minority Students’ Union requested the federal government to not intervene with the meals habits of folks.
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