New Bill seeks to ban slaughter of all cattle; has stringent penal provisions

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, which was adopted by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, seeks to ban slaughtering of all cattle, together with cow, calf, and even bull. With respect to he/she buffalo, it seeks to ban their slaughter if the animals are beneath 13 years of age.

The violation of the laws, on conviction, would entice imprisonment starting from three years to seven years with a wonderful not lower than ₹50,000 per cattle and could also be prolonged up to ₹7 lakh or each. In the case of second and subsequent offence, will probably be a wonderful not lesser than ₹1 lakh which may be prolonged to ₹10 lakh together with imprisonment, which can be prolonged to seven years.

The Bill, piloted by Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Prabhu Chauhan, makes even promoting/disposing the cattle for slaughtering or deliberately killing the cattle an offence. If the accused is convicted, then the court docket can forfeit the confiscated cattle, automobile, premises, and materials on behalf of the State authorities.

The authorities can appoint a tahsildar or officer not beneath the rank of veterinary officer of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department as competent authority to look into varied points associated to slaughtering underneath the proposed laws.

The Bill permits police officer not beneath the rank of sub-inspector or competent authority to go to the premises the place suspicious slaughtering is happening. He can seize the premises, cattle and supplies.

He has to make a report earlier than the sub-divisional Justice of the Peace who can order confiscation of the property, if convicted. The sub-divisional Justice of the Peace can be allowed to promote the confiscated property by means of public public sale, if want be. However, the cattle are usually not supposed to be bought or returned to the proprietor in such circumstances. The Bill prescribes that they be handed over to cow shelters recognised by the federal government.

The Bill additionally offers for structure of particular courts for the speedy disposal of disputes underneath the proposed laws. Interstate transport of cattle is banned with out prior permission from the competent authority.

The Bill has exempted cattle operated for vaccine lymph, serum, or any experimental or analysis function at any authorities or recognised institute from its provisions.

It has additionally allowed slaughter whether it is licensed by a veterinary officer as being obligatory within the curiosity of public well being and within the case the place the cattle is affected by any illness which is licensed by veterinary officer as contagious and harmful to different cattle.

Similarly, the slaughter of terminally-ill cattle and buffalo which is above the age of 13 shall be allowed upon certification by veterinary officer.

‘Acting in good faith’

Interestingly, the brand new Bill seeks to defend individuals performing in good religion to stop cow slaughter.

It says that no go well with, prosecution or different authorized proceedings shall be initiated towards the competent authority or any particular person exercising powers underneath this laws in “good faith”.

BJP leaders supply ‘cow puja’ in entrance of Vidhana Soudha

The ruling BJP legislators and Ministers supplied puja to a cow in entrance of the Vidhana Soudha when the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, was adopted within the Assembly on Wednesday.

BJP nationwide common secretary C.T. Ravi, senior minister K.S. Eshwarappa, and Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan have been amongst those that supplied the puja.

Also, quickly after tabling of the Bill, all the BJP members, together with Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, got here to the Assembly sporting a saffron scarf to categorical solidarity with the spirit of the Bill.

When Opposition Congress member H.K. Patil raised objection to saffron shawls within the Assembly, Speaker Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri overruled the objection declaring that the Congress members had sported black bands within the House on Tuesday throughout the ‘Bharat Bandh’ known as by farmers’ organisations.