Friday, October 4, 2024
HomeNews ReportsBeef ban in India - a reality check

Beef ban in India – a reality check

It’s still not very clear exactly what has been banned in Maharashtra i.e. whether its the slaughter of calves, bulls, bullocks etc. Some news reports suggest only Bullocks may be up for slaughter now. This has already been linked to “Hindutva” and “Brahminical” tendencies by some of the usual suspects:


But, we do know what is already banned in other states of India.  States like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and even Jammu & Kashmir have a blanket ban of ANY type of bovine slaughter. Are these states, especially Jammu & Kashmir prone to “Hindutva” or “Brahminical” forces? Also, most of the acts are in force for a long time. While the merits of such a ban are debatable, it is surely a bit hypocritical to make this a religious or casteist debate.

Prohibition of cow slaughter is a Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Article 48 of the Constitution. It reads, “The State shall endeavour to organise 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”. Any attempt to give it a communal angle is not sustainable. Also, Even Mahatma Gandhi, was against Cow Slaughter. Someone should remind this to Mr Tushar Gandhi, who is the great-grand son of Mahatma Gandhi:


StateLegal for slaughterIllegal for slaughterAct
JAMMU & KASHMIRNONEVoluntary slaughter of any bovine animal such as ox, bull, cow or calfTHE RANBIR PENAL CODE, 1932
DELHIBuffaloSlaughter of all agricultural cattle is totally prohibited.THE DELHI AGRICULTURAL CATTLE PRESERVATION ACT, 1994
HARYANANONESlaughter of cow (and its progeny) totally prohibited.THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955
HIMACHAL PRADESHNONESlaughter of cow (and its progeny) totally prohibited.THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955
PUNJABNONESlaughter of cow (and its progeny) totally prohibited.THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955
RAJASTHANNONEAll bovine animals (includes cow, calf, heifer, bull or bullocks)THE RAJASTHAN BOVINE ANIMAL (PROHIBITION OF SLAUGHTER AND REGULATION OF TEMPORARY MIGRATION OR EXPORT) ACT, 1995
ASSAMSlaughter of all cattle allowed on ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificateSlaughter of any cattle without ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificateTHE ASSAM CATTLE PRESERVATION ACT, 1950
BIHARSlaughter of bull or bullock of over 15 years of age or has become permanently incapacitated for work or breeding due to injury, deformity or any incurable disease.Slaughter of cow and calf, Bulls or bullocks totally prohibited except as stated previouslyTHE BIHAR PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMALS ACT, 1955
GUJARATSlaughter of buffaloes permitted on certain conditionsSlaughter of cow, calf, bull or bullock totally prohibited.THE BOMBAY ANIMAL PRESERVATION ACT, 1954 (APPLIED TO GUJARAT )
ORISSASlaughter of bull, bullock on fit-for-slaughter certificateSlaughter of cow totally prohibited.THE ORISSA PREVENTION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1960
UTTAR PRADESHSlaughter of bull or bullock permitted on ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificateSlaughter of cow totally prohibited.THE UTTAR PRADESH PREVENTION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955
GOACow, only if the animal is suffering pain or contagious disease or for medical research. Bulls, Bullocks on on obtaining a "fit-for-slaughter" certificateAny other CowTHE GOA ANIMAL PRESERVATION ACT, 1995 & The Goa, Daman & Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978

(Above information is available here)

Join OpIndia's official WhatsApp channel

  Support Us  

Whether NDTV or 'The Wire', they never have to worry about funds. In name of saving democracy, they get money from various sources. We need your support to fight them. Please contribute whatever you can afford

OpIndia Staff
OpIndia Staffhttps://www.opindia.com
Staff reporter at OpIndia

Related Articles

Trending now

Recently Popular

- Advertisement -