Gujarat: Cow slaughter now a life term offence after Assembly amends law

The state Assembly today amended the Gujarat Cow Protection Act to make laws even more stringent.

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In Short

• The Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954 was last amended in 2011.
• Fines for possession of beef now range from Rs1 to 5 lakh.
• The prison term for that offence is seven to 10 years.

Cow slaughter is now a non-bailable offence and punishable with life imprisonment in Gujarat, after the state Assembly today amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954 to make laws even more stringent. The Act was last amended in 2011.

As well, people found to be in possession of beef will be slapped with a fine that can range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, and imprisoned for seven to 10 years. And that, too, is a non-bailable offence.

Until now, the maximum jail term for possession was seven years, and the minimum term was three years. The penalty was Rs 50,000.

Earlier this month, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani hinted that his government was thinking about introducing a Bill with stringent provisions to save cows.

This amendment comes at a time when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath has ordered a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in his state, just days into his tenure.

(Inputs from PTI)