Guwahati: The BJP led government in Assam Monday tabled the Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 on the first day of the Budget session of the Assam legislative assembly, which not only seeks to regulate slaughter, consumption, illegal transportation of cattle but also makes any violation under the proposed Bill punishable with a minimum of three years imprisonment and imposition of a minimum fine of Rs. 3 lakh.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the Bill before the House on Monday.
Although a legislation banning slaughter and illegal transportation of cattle was not on the BJP's election manifesto in Assam, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi had during the session of the Assembly in May this year stated that his government plans to introduce a Cow Protection Bill in the next session of the Assembly.
The Definition of the Bill clearly says that "Beef" means flesh of cattle in any form whose slaughter is prohibited under this Act.
"No person shall directly or indirectly sale or offer or expose for sale of buy beef or beef products in any form except at places permitted to do so by the competent authority," it said.
"Provided that no such permission shall be granted in such areas which are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikhs and other non-beef eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra, or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or areas as may be prescribed by competent authority," the bill said.
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The Bill also has penal provision for those whoever contravenes the provisions under the Act and there are provisions to deal with the guilty punishable with imprisonment for a term not less than three years which may be extended to eight years and with a fine which shall be not les than Rs. 3 lakh and may extend to Rs. 5 lakh.
A government spokesperson had earlier stated that the idea behind the bill is to check the illegal cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, which is rampant and runs into huge crores.
It may be mentioned here that Cow slaughter is not banned in Assam. The slaughtering of cow is regulated under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950. According to the rules available so far, a cattle head needs to be over 14 years of age or has become unproductive. It is also mandatory to have a certificate issued by a veterinary officer stating that the cattle is fit for slaughter.
