PIL in HC for law prohibiting cow slaughter, beef sale

A petition was filed on Thursday in the Delhi High Court to direct the city government to enact a law prohibiting cow slaughter and sale of beef and its products across the national capital region.

The plea would come for hearing on Friday before a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath.

The public interest litigation was filed by Swami Satyananda Chakradhari, who claims to be a monk.

"Direct the respondents (Delhi government, lt. governor and Delhi Police) to consider enacting a law prohibiting slaughter of cows, their import/export and sale of beef and its products across Delhi and NCR," said the plea.

The petition also sought directions to Delhi government to enact a law similar to the 1932 Ranbir Penal Code, applicable in Jammu and Kashmir, which states that "slaughter of cows and like animals" was punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment as well as a financial penalty.

"The state government should set up a Gokul Gram on the government-proposed land and the Gokul Gram will be used to rehabilitate old cows, bulls and bullocks. The Gokul Gram should be set up with central government aid," it added.

Maharashtra state government recently banned the possession and sale of beef and violators in the state can be punished by up to five years in prison, it further stated.