With SC ruling, bovine slaughter now fully banned in MP

Bhopal, Apr 5 (UNI) With the Supreme Court quashing petitions against the 'Gauvansh Vadh Pratished Adhiniyam', 2004, slaughter of bovines is now totally banned in Madhya Pradesh, official sources said here today.

Being in possession of beef and transporting will also amount to criminal offences that would attract upto three years' imprisonment or Rs 10,000 fine or both. Bulls and oxen aged above 15 years will also not be killed.

The act was implemented on March 29, 2004. Ten butchers from Jabalpur, Burhanpur and Khandwa filed two pleas stating that the legislation affected their livelihood and flew in the face of rights enshrined in the Constitution.

After hearing one petition, the apex court ruled on December 10, 2004 that the petitioners could slay oxen and bulls over 15 years until a final ruling.

On January 20, 2006, the state government urged the Supreme Court to speedily hear the pleas. Recently, the court also ruled in favour of the Gujarat government'a anti bovine-slaughter directive.

The Madhya Pradesh government submitted that the act was aimed at maintaining peace and harmony among communities.

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