Guwahati: Head of Assam Minister Himanta Buswa Sarma on Monday submitted an Assam’s livestock preservation bill, 2021, in the State Assembly to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of livestock, even when MLA opposition piled on price increases on the first day on the first day of the budget session.
After the bill gets assembly nods, sales, offers or exposure to beef will be banned in areas that are mostly inhabited by Hinduism, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities.
The prohibition will also take effect within a 5 km radius of the temple, Vaishnavite monastery), or other Hindu religious institutions.
It can also be applied to other institutions or regions determined by competent authorities.
“There are no people who will directly or sell or offer or offer or expose or buy beef or beef products in any form except in places that are allowed to be done by competent authorities,” read the bill.
To uphold the provisions of the law, a police officer, not under the rank of sub-inspectors, or registered animal officers, or anyone authorized by the state government, will have the power to enter and examine the place in their jurisdiction.
Wherever the authorities find reasons to believe that violations based on this action have or the possibility will be carried out, the inspection authority has been given the power to act.
“All veterinary officers and other people who exercise strength under the Act will be considered a civil servant in the sense of part 21 of the Indian criminal code,” he added.
The bill, however, brought the exception to be slaughtered which was certified by an authorized veteranian officer in his name by the state government for the benefit of public health.
Massacre of livestock suffering from incurable, infectious, infectious or dangerous diseases for other livestock has been permitted but with permission from authorized veterinarian officers.
While limiting unregulated massacres, the bill imagines to enable the state government to build a Gaushalas directly, or can direct recognized organizations or local authorities to start the institution to care for livestock.
No one will transport any livestock without valid permission from anywhere in the state to anywhere outside the state where livestock slaughter is not regulated by law.
The same thing applies in the case of livestock transportation from other circumstances through Assam to another country.
However, the bill stated that there was no permit needed to bring livestock to the field of grazing or for agricultural or livestock in certain districts.
“There is no permission needed to carry livestock to and from the animal market registered for the purpose of selling and purchasing the livestock in the district,” he added.
Violations of the provisions mentioned in the bill, can cause prisons from three to eight years and well, which should not be less than Rs 3 Lakh and can extend to Rs 5 Lakh or both.
Existing Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, regulates the massacre of livestock in Assam, provided the veterinary officer concerned provides a fit-slaught certificate.
The massacre of livestock over the age of 14 is scheduled.
New legislation will revoke the action of 1950 where beef consumption is not a violation.
In addition, laws can lead to further intensify the BJP-government steps on cattle smuggling to Bangladesh which are through porous international borders and river areas along the international border.
However, the bill, when it passes, can be a major concern for the northeastern state of other Christian majority where beef is a popular meat.
Chairman of Meghalaya Minister Conrad Sangma has said he will take problems with union government if the law affects Meghalaya’s people and economics.
Finance Minister Assam Ajanta Neog will present a budget on July 16.