Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 7: Through a press release, state minister for animal husbandry, Prabhu Chauhan, has said that anti-cow slaughter laws would be made more stringent on the lines of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat by adopting parts of the laws which have proposed tough fines and jail terms for this crime. He said he had visited both Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, studied the laws there, and held discussions with the officials and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath about the laws governing cow slaughter. He said that his government will move tougher provisions for cow slaughter and the bill will be moved in the session of the legislature that is set to begin on Monday.

Representational image

Sources say that the government plans to introduce ten years jail term and fine of Rs five lac for illegal cow slaughter. As per the current provisions of the Cow Slaughter Ban Act of 1964 that is in vogue, six months jail term for illegal cow slaughter and fine of Rs 1,000 has been imposed. The government is likely to propose fine of Rs 5 lac for this crime.

As per the current act, slaughter of cows that are aged over 12 years, and aged and unproductive cattle can be slaughtered after obtaining permission in advance.

The then BJP government had proposed to enhance the punishment for illegal cow slaughter to seven years jail term and fine of Rs one lac. Even though the amendments were passed and sent for Presidential assent, the President had not signed it. The amendment bill was referred back to the government and but the then Congress government in 2013 decided to continue with the old law.

The state government is understood to have planned to raise more sheep and goats so that meat production is not affected by the cow slaughter ban.