Gujarat govt notifies amended law with provision of life-term for cow slaughter

Gujarat government on Saturday notified rules for the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2017, that has provision for a life-term for any person found guilty of cow slaughter or having direct involvement with the cow slaughter.

The amendment to this effect was brought in by Gujarat government on the last day of budget session that end on March 31, 2017. With this, Gujarat becomes the first state in the country to have a strict law against cow slaughter.

Giving details, minister of state for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that the rules have been notified after suggestions from a panel on the issue.

The new law has provisions for financial penalty of anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for such a crime. Anyone found illegally keeping or transporting a cow too can be imprisoned up to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The offence is also non-bailable now.

The new Act includes seizure of the vehicles used for transportation of animals for slaughter.

The state government has also put curbs on transportation of cows in the state. Even the legal and licensed movement of the cattle would not be allowed between 7.00 pm in the evening to 5.00 am in the morning. This is being done to further restrict any illegal movement of cattle. “Now onwards additional 10 mobile vans will be put on road for immunology electro forensic or precipitation tube method investigation to identify cow beef on the spot,” Jadeja said. As of now, Gujarat has five forensic science laboratory facilities across the state.

The minister said that the officials authorized to issue permits cattle transportation too have been changed. Earlier 38 officials were authorized to do so but now with new rules, only TDO, Mamlatdar, chief officer, deputy health officer of municipal corporation, assistant commissioner, deputy municipal commissioner and veterinary officer would be allowed to issue permits for transportation of cattle.