Bengaluru: Amidst stiff opposition from Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), the controversial Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2020 prohibiting slaughter of cows, buffaloes, and bulls below 13 years of age, was passed in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly yesterday.

As soon as Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan tabled the Bill, Opposition Leader Siddharamaiah opposed it tooth and nail contending that new Bill must not be tabled in the House without being discussed in Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. The BAC has taken a decision that only those Bills for which ordinances have been passed, must be tabled. However, the State Government was hurriedly tabling the Bill.

The Congress members trooped into the ‘Well’ and raised slogans. 

Chief Whip of Ruling Party Sunil Kumar claimed that the BAC had decided to table any Bill if it was necessary. Accordingly, this Bill had been tabled. Even Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri had allowed discussion on the Bill.

This enraged Congress members who got into a wordy duel with the ruling BJP members. Amid din, Minister Chauhan tabled the Bill and was passed with voice vote.

Highlights

• Violation of law, on conviction, will attract imprisonment ranging from 3 years to 7 years with a fine of not less than  
• Rs. 50,000 per cattle, may be extended up to Rs. 7 lakh or both.
• In the case of second and subsequent offence, the fine will not be lower than Rs. 1 lakh and may be extended to Rs. 10 lakh along with imprisonment, which may be extended to seven years.
• Premises of violation can be confiscated and auctioned, if need be.
• Confiscated cattle will have to be handed over to recognised cow shelters.
• Selling/disposing of cattle for slaughtering or intentionally kind the cattle is an offence.
• Bill allows Police officers, authorities to inspect premises if there is suspicion of violation of provisions.
• Special Courts can be constituted for speedy disposal of disputes
• The Government can appoint a Tahsildar or Officer not below the rank of Veterinary Officer of the Animal Husbandry and 
• Fisheries Department as competent authority to look into various issues related to slaughtering of cows.