Beef Sale Ban Row : Bombay HC Declines To Grant Relief To Beef Traders

10 March, Mumbai

The Bombay High Court has refused to grant relief to beef dealers in the city.

The division bench comprises of Justices V M Kanade and A R Joshi said yesterday that since Maharashtra Animal Preservation Amendment Act, which bans slaughter of bullocks and bulls in addition to that of cows, has come into effect, now the authorities are duty-bound to take action if slaughter is carried out.

Justice Kanade urged the people not to make this a religious and prestige issue. The court was hearing an application filed by Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers’ Welfare Association, which has challenged the ban on beef sale.

The Beef Dealers’ Association had approached the court seeking to intervene in a petition which has sought enforcement of the new law.

The state government Monday submitted the notification regarding beef ban following which the court said it cannot grant any relief.

Under the new law, which recently received the President’s assent, anyone found to be selling beef or possessing it, can be jailed for five years and fined Rs 10,000.