Maharashtra beef ban may extend to other meat - legalera.in

Advocate General Sunil Manohar told the Bombay High Court on 6^th April, 2015, that the Maharashtra Government could possibly extend the ban on possession and consumption of cow, bull and bullock meat, to other meat as well.

"This is just the beginning. We may consider banning slaughter of other animals too. As of now, the State felt it was necessary to protect cows, bulls and bullocks," said Manohar.

The above statement was made in response to a question by a Division Bench of Justices VM Kanade and AR Joshi, which enquired as to why the Government, under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, had banned the slaughter, possession and consumption only of cows, bulls and bullocks and had not extended the said ban to other animals, such as goats.

The High Court heard a series of petitions that challenged a provision under Section 5(d) of the recently amended Act, which banned the possession and consumption of the meat of animals like cows, bulls and bullocks. According to the Petitioners, if the slaughter of these animals was allowed outside Maharashtra, it should be permitted within the state as well. Senior counsel, Aspi Chinoy, who appeared for one of the Petitioners, argued that Section 5(d) of the Act was arbitrary and went against the fundamental right of citizens.

The Court suggested that the Government implement a licence policy by which the import of the meat of cattle slaughtered outside the State could be permitted. However, Manohar objected to this, saying that the Act also prohibited the import of meat.

The petitions also challenged Section 9(A) of the said Act, which stipulated a period of imprisonment of one year and a fine of upto Rs. 2,000 for contravention of the provisions pertaining to the possession of beef. The High Court asked the Government to file its reply and listed the matter for the next hearing on 20^th April, 2015.