Karnataka Assembly Passes Bill To Ban Slaughter Of All Cattle Except Buffalo Aged Above 13 Years

The Karnataka Assembly passed on Wednesday a bill to ban the slaughter of all cattle except buffalo aged above the age of 13 years.

The bill defines "cattle" as "cow, calf of a cow and bull, bullock and he or she buffalo below the age of thirteen years".

"Beef" is defined as "flesh of cattle in any form".

The bill titled the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, imposes a total ban on the slaughter of cattle.

"Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, custom or usage to the contrary, no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered, or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter or otherwise intentionally kill or offer or cause to be offered for killing any cattle", says Section 4 of the Bill.

While many states have laws against cow slaughter, most of them exempt buffalo from the prohibition. Karnataka has widened the ambit of the prohibition by covering buffaloes below the age of 13 years.

The bill further prohibits transportation of cattle within or outside the state for the purpose of slaughter.

The bill also states the no person should purchase, sell or otherwise dispose of or offer to do so any cattle for slaughter or knowing or having reason to believe that such cattle will be slaughtered.

A police officer above the rank of sub-inspector, if he has "reason to believe" that an offence under this Act has been committed, can inspect any premises and conduct a search.

As per the bill, seized cattle will be handed over to the care of state-run organizations.

The offences are cognizable and violations can be punished with imprisonment of three to five years and fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. There is also a provision for the forfeiture of the confiscated cattle, vehicles, materials and premises to the State on conviction.

The exemptions under the 2020 Bill are buffaloes above the age of 13 years and certified by a competent authority, cattle used in medical research, cattle certified for slaughter by a veterinarian to prevent spread of a disease, and very sick cattle.

The bill also repeals the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act 1964.  Under the 1964 law, slaughter of bullock or buffalo was permissible with certification from the competent authority as the ban was only on the slaughter of "cow or calf of she-buffalo".

The bill was passed in the Assembly yesterday amid a walkout staged by the opposition of Congress and JD(S).

Prabhu Chavan, minister for animal husbandry and fisheries, said that a new law was necessary to preserve cattle.

Protesting the passage of the bill, leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah  tweeted that "the govt is trying to cover up their failures and misguide people by bringing up issues like Anti-Cow slaughter bill".

The bill now awaits the nod of the Legislative Council.

Update on December 11 : The Government did not table the bill before the Legislative Council before both houses of the legislature adjourned sine die on December 10.

Click here to read/download the Bill