Hurdles cleared for cow slaughter ordinance: BS Yediyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said the High Court’s observation Wednesday that the ban on cow slaughter is “constitutionally-valid” came as a “major boost” to the BJP government.

“The development in the High Court today clears hurdles for the government to effectively implement the cow slaughter ordinance,” Yediyurappa said in a statement.

On January 5, the state government promulgated the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, which bans slaughter of cows, proposes hefty punishment for killing cattle and offers protection to those “acting in good faith” to save them.

According to Yediyurappa, the Court, after hearing the advocate general, observed that the issue relating to ban on cow slaughter was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Mirzapur’s case as being constitutionally-valid. “The state government contended before the court that the ordinance was in consonance with the directive principles of state policy in the Constitution,” he said.

Read | The bottomless pit that is Karnataka's new cattle Bill

“The government further contended by filing preliminary statement of objections that the cattle population over the past 8 years has substantially reduced from 95,16,484 in 2012 census (19th livestock census) to 84,69,004 in 2019 (20th livestock census), and that as per the 2019 census, 2,38,296 cattle are being slaughtered every year and on an average it works out to 652 per day,” Yediyurappa pointed out.

The state government is working on ear-tagging cattle under the Centre’s Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) scheme, Yediyurappa said. “Ear-tagging of cattle is undertaken using RFID conforming to Bureau of India Standards, and out of total cattle population of 1,15,53,564, about 96,00,000 cattle are ear-tagged and the work is in progress,” he said.

The CM further said that the government also submitted to the High Court that there were 4,212 veterinary institutions throughout the state headed by veterinary officers and inspectors available on call, with 176 mobile clinics.

“The court, however, observed that the government must ensure that no coercive action is taken against farmers who transport animals for animal husbandry, agriculture, and other bona fide purposes until the rules are framed under the provisions of the ordinance,” Yediyurappa said.