Assam CM tables cow protection bill in Assembly; offences under legislation to be non-bailable

Guwahati: A bill to regulate slaughter, consumption, and transportation of cattle was tabled in the Assam Assembly on Monday by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who said that the new legislation aims to forbid the sale and purchase of beef in places other than the ones permitted by competent authorities. Sarma, after introducing the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 in the House, also pointed out that the legislation seeks to ensure that permission wasn’t granted to areas that are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and other non-beef eating communities or places that fall within five- kilometre radius of a temple, satra, and any other institution as maybe prescribed by the authorities. Exemptions might be granted for certain religious occasions, he noted. The chief minister further said that there was an imperative need to enact a new legislation and repeal the earlier Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950 which lacked sufficient legal provisions to regulate the slaughter consumption and transportation of cattle. The law, when enacted, will prohibit a person from slaughtering cattle unless he has obtained the necessary certificate issued by the registered veterinary officer of a particular area. According to the bill, the veterinary officer will issue a certificate only if he is of the opinion that the bovine, not being a cow, is over 14 years of age. A cow, heifer or calf may be slaughtered only if it is permanently incapacitated. Also, just duly licensed or recognised slaughter houses will be allowed to butcher cattle, the bill maintained. The new legislation will check the transport of bovines within the state or outside, if valid documents are not made available to the authorities. There will, however, no restriction on ferrying cattle for agricultural purposes within a district. One does not need to take permission for transporting cattle to and from registered animal markets for the purpose of sale and purchase within the district. All offenses under this new legislation shall be cognizable and non-bailable. Anybody found guilty shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years or a fine that may vary between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh or both. If someone convicted under the new law is found guilty of the same or a related offense the second time, the punishment will be doubled. The legislation shall extend to the whole of Assam and the term ‘cattle’ shall apply to bulls, bullocks, cows, heifer, calves, male and female buffaloes and buffalo calves.