UT makes anti-cow slaughter laws stringent

NEW DELHI: The merged Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu will now have more stringent provisions in its law against cow slaughter, including a ban on transportation of a cow, calf, heifer, bull, bullock and ox within the UT for the purpose of its slaughter and introduction of higher penalties – starting from 10 years in jail up to imprisonment for life and fine between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh – for such slaughter.

According to the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Adaptation of State Laws) Second Order, 2022, notified by the Union home ministry on Tuesday, the Bombay Animal Preservation Act, 1954, as applicable to the erstwhile UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and as in force in Gujarat, as well as The Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, as applicable to the erstwhile UT of Daman and Diu, now stand amended and shall apply to the merged UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

As per the amendments introduced in two Acts, the definition of scheduled animal whose slaughter will be completely banned and also a cognisable and non-bailable offence across the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu includes ox and heifer and not just cow, calf, bull and bullock. However, this would not apply for slaughter of any animal above the age of 15 years, other than a cow, heifer, bull, bullock or ox, for bona fide religious purposes as may be prescribed or on prescribed religious days.

Importantly, no person shall transport or offer to transport a scheduled animal from one place to another in the same UT, for purpose of slaughter or with the knowledge that it is to be slaughtered. A permit will be required to transport the animals for bona fide agricultural or animal husbandry purpose, and if done without a permit, it will be deemed that the animal was being transported for slaughter, unless proved otherwise by the suspect.

Any vehicle used for transportation of a scheduled animal will be liable to be seized along with the animal. The seized vehicle will stand forfeited to the government.

The amended Animal Preservation Act and Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act now applicable to the merged UT prohibit a person from directly or indirectly selling, keeping, storing, transporting, offering or exposing for sell or buying beef – defined as flesh of cow, calf, heifer, bull, bullock of ox — or beef products in any form. Whenever any person transports or causes to be transported beef or beef products, the transport vehicle shall be liable to be seized and forfeited to the government.

As per the new penalties, which now are more or less on par with those introduced by Gujarat in 2017, slaughter of an animal, other than cow etc, without a certificate where shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine up to Rs 10,000.

Slaughter of cow, calf, bull, bullock, heifer and ox will invite minimum 10 years in jail and maximum life term, along with fine which may range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Contravention of provisions against transport of cow, bull etc within the UT without permit or transport of beef or beef products — would be punished with jail term between 7 years and 10 years and fine that may extend from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act notified on Monday does away with exception of flesh of cow contained in sealed containers imported into the UT, from the beef ban. It further states that cow slaughter will include maiming, poisoning, insensate and inflicting of physical injury which in the ordinary course will cause death. It also does away with exceptions to cow slaughter ban, such as killing of cow suffering enough to render its destruction desirable or afflicted by contagious disease notified by government.