Intro: With the assent of President Shri Pranab Mukherjee to Maharashtra State Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill (1995) after 19 years there is complete ban on cow slaughter in the State.
The Maharashtra State Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill (1995) initiated by previous BJP-Shiv Sena Government, has now finally got secured after the assent of President Pranab Mukherjee. The Bill, pending for 19 years, was first time submitted for approval to the President on January 30, 1996. Recently, a delegation of 7 BJP MP's from Maharashtra led by Shri Kirit Somaiya had called on the President and requested him to grant his assent to the Bill.
During the long duration of 19 years many correspondences were made between the State and the Centre about clarifications and impact of the law. On November 12, 2014, the State government sent the Bill with amendments for the consent of the President.
Finally, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs submitted a letter to Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao mentioning that the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee has granted his assent to the Bill on February 26.
Before the enforcement of the law, slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks was allowed only on the basis of a fit-for-slaughter certificate. Now after the implementation of this law, no one would be allowed to indulge in cow slaughter. The punishment for the offence is five years with additional fine of Rs 10,000. “Thanks a lot to honourable President Sir for the assent on Maharashtra Animal Preservation Bill. Our dream of ban on cow slaughter becomes a reality now,” Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadanvis twitted.
“I am very happy that the President finally gave his assent. We have been trying hard for several years to get the Bill passed. It not only ensures that animals are not killed, but would also stabilise the agricultural situation. Prevention of the killing of animals will increase the productivity of farms. Even healthy animals were being killed for money, but it will stop now,” said Shri Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister of Finance and Planning, and Forest Department.
—Prasad S. Joshi
