The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Maharashtra government seeking its response to a petition for banning beef eating in that state.
The Bombay High Court had upheld the Maharashtra government’s decision to ban the slaughter of cows and bullocks in the state in May this year.
However, the court struck down the section in the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act that criminalises possession of beef brought from outside the state.
Earlier in January, a division bench of justices AS Oka and SC Gupte had reserved the ruling after hearing arguments.
In February 2015, the President had granted assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act. While the original 1976 Act banned slaughter of cows, the amendment prohibited, in addition, slaughter of bulls and bullocks and possession and consumption of their meat.
As per the Act, slaughter attracts a five-year jail term and Rs 10,000 fine while possession of the meat of a bull or bullock attracts one year in jail and a fine of Rs 2,000.
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