Cow slaughter ban bill passed in Council

The Bill prohibits sale, usage and possession of beef and restricts slaughter and transport of cattle in State. As per the Bill, the definition of cattle includes - cows and calves of she-bufalloes, bull, bullock and buffalo.

The Legislative Assembly has already passed the Bill. Now, the Government will have to send the Bill to the Governor for his consent. Taking advantage of the conundrum in the House following the Opposition parties’ protest, the ruling party tabled the controversial Bill and passed it with voice vote. In a House of 75 members, the BJP has 41 members. The first on the agenda of the Council was tabling the cow slaughter ban  bill.

When Animal Husbandry Minister Revu Naik Belamagi tabled the Bill for consideration, there was stiff opposition from the Congress and the JD(S) members from the well of the House. But without a debate the Bill was passed. The Opposition parties had been opposing the passage of the Bill citing it as anti-minorities and anti-dalit. While some of the agitating members tore the copies of the Bill, some raised slogans against the BJP.

The Bill will replace the existing Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act 1964. It will come into effect only after the assent of the Governor. All offences, in violation of the provisions, are cognisable and non-bailable. The offences may attract imprisonment for a term of seven years and a penalty upto Rs one lakh.
Addressing the media, JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah said the existing Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act 1964 was sufficient to safeguard the cattle breeds.  

Panchayat Raj Bill

The Council also passed the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2010 which offers 50 per cent reservation for women in gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats. At present, 33 per cent of seats are reserved for women. The Bill allows use of electronic voting machines in elections to GPs, TPs, and ZPs. The Bill is yet to be tabled in the Assembly.