Anti-cow slaughter Bill tabled

Special Corr

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2010, which has kicked up a controversy in political circles, was on Tuesday introduced in the Legislative Assembly amid pandemonium and chaos with the Opposition parties expressing resentment over the Government's move to bring forth legislation.

Minister for Animal Husbandry Revu Naik Belamgi tabled the Bill which seeks to repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act of 1964.

Prior to tabling the Bill in the lower house, the State Cabinet had given its consent to the new law after a high-level Cabinet Subcommittee headed by Minister for Home V.S. Acharya went into various aspects of cow slaughter and cattle preservation and the contents of the 1964 Act. The Government has said that the new law was necessitated to prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves, bulls and buffaloes and for the preservation and improvement of the breeds of cattle in consonance with the provisions of Article 48 of the Constitution.

The Bill provides for stringent punishment for violation of the Act and also provides for powers for search and seizure of any premises as well as motor vehicles.

- The Hindu