The Bhartiya Janata Party government led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in Karnataka took the ordinance route to save the cattle from slaughtering.
Having cleared by the governor, the Karnataka cabinet’s order to stop killing cattle came into effect from today. The ordinance opens the way to penalise anyone for killing cattle and defends “acting in good faith” to save them. The Legislative Council is yet to clear up a bill on this.
The BJP has hailed the ordinance as a big leap in protecting cattle in the state.
Anyone found guilty of slaughtering cattle will be jailed for 3-7 years, with a fine of between 50,000 and 5 lakh. A individual found guilty of slaughtering cattle for a second time will be jailed for seven years and fined one lakh and ten lakhs.
The slaughtering of meat of buffaloes over 13 years of age is permissible only if approved by the competent authority. Exemption is often provided for the killing of terminally sick cattle, cattle suffering from infectious illnesses or those undertaking surgical treatments for scientific purposes.
Providing immunity to “persons acting in good faith” the ordinance specifies that no litigation, indictment or other legal action can be brought against the competent authority or any person who exercises powers under this ordinance.
