Beef trader, butcher file petition: ‘Fundamental right taken away’, HC to hear plea

The HC had on April 29 refused to stay the provision of new beef ban law which restricts people from procuring beef from outside the state.

beef ban, beef, mumbai beef, beef news, maharashtra beef ban, maharashtra beef, maharashtra beef news, indian express news

The court, however, directed the state not to take any coercive action for its possession for three months.

The Bombay High Court posted on Friday the hearing of a petition challenging the recently enforced beef ban law. A beef trader and a butcher have moved the HC saying the ban has taken away their fundamental right as the demand to allow slaughter is only restricted to bovines which are unfit for agricultural purpose.

The HC had on April 29 refused to stay the provision of new beef ban law which restricts people from procuring beef from outside the state. The court, however, directed the state not to take any coercive action for its possession for three months.

The new petition is filed by Ansari Mohammed Umar, who deals with sale and purchase of bulls and bullocks and Shaikh Sadik Babulal, a butcher. They have challenged the recently-enforced Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1995. The state has banned slaughter of bulls and bullocks and export and import of its meat.

[related-post]

Story continues below this ad

Earlier, the state had only banned the slaughter of cows but the new law was extended to bulls and bullocks.

The petitioners have not challenged the ban imposed on slaughtering of cows but of bulls and bullocks. The petition seeks a stay on the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks, which are not suitable for milching, breeding or any agricultural purpose.

The petition has also sought for police protection to those who are in the business of slaughter of these animals, and also to those who transport this meat.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram