Haryana Govt bans Cow slaughter & Beef sale

The Haryana Assembly on Monday evening unanimously passed a Bill under which cow slaughter and the sale of beef have been banned in the state. After discussing the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Bill, 2015, for protection and upkeep of cows, the House passed it last night with voice vote.

The bill, moved by Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister O P Dhankar, was supported by the main opposition INLD and the Congress.

The new law will also promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds of cows and establish institutions to keep, maintain and take care of the infirm, injured, stray and uneconomic cows.

The Bill also provides for rigorous imprisonment from 3 to 10 years and fine from 30000 rupees to one lakh rupees. It also has a provision for additional imprisonment for default in payment of fine up to one year.

However, the killing of cow in accident or self defence would not be considered cow slaughter.

According to the Bill, anybody indulging in export of cow for the purpose of slaughter would get 3 to 7 years imprisonment with fine from 30000 rupees to 70000 rupees. On the other hand, the offence indulged in sale of beef in the state would be punishable with a rigorous imprisonment from 3 to 5 years with fine up to 50,000 rupees.