Gujarat Animal Preservation Amendment Bill, 2017

Gujarat Assembly passes Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Gujarat Assembly has passed the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to amend Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954. The amendment bill makes the existing law stricter and provides for harsher punishment and higher penalties to prevent cow slaughter in the state.

Main Facts

1. This bill has more stringent provision against the cow slaughtering and cow transportation for slaughtering. It allows cow Gujarat Cow transportation only with permit issued by Government authority.
2. Only 7 officials are notified for issuance of permit contrary to 25 earlier. It does not allow transportation of cows during night hours. It also makes slaughtering of cow cognizable and non-bailable offence.
3. It also raises the minimum jail term for illegal ferrying of cows for slaughter from 7 to 10 years against the current provision of 3 to 7 years. It also increases the monetary penalty from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
4. Vehicle used for illegal cow transportation will be seized permanently by the Government. Earlier the government used to confiscate such vehicles only for six months.

Background

Gujarat Government had enacted the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act-1954 as per Article 48 of Constitution for the preservation of milch animals, and for cattle that are suitable for breeding or agricultural purposes. It was amended in 2011 for better implementation of the Act.