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Journalism of Courage
At a time when fringe outfits are becoming increasingly violent over the issue of cow protection, the Maharashtra government has decided to appoint Honorary Animal Welfare Officers to help implement its “beef ban”.
The Commissionerate of Animal Husbandry, which is in charge of implementing the ban along with police, has invited applications from organisations in the field of animal welfare to nominate candidates for the new post.
An advertisement posted last week on the official website of the commissionerate stated: “This office is taking all-out efforts for proper implementation of the law, but it has been noticed in some parts of the state the ban is not being effectively implemented.”
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When contacted, officials in the animal husbandry department said such officers will help expose cases of cow slaughter or illegal possession of beef.
The state government had last year amended the Maharashtra Animal Protection Act, 1995 and banned the slaughter of animals belonging to the cow progeny.
The amendment had made culling of such animals a criminal offence with five years jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000 for possession of beef.
The Bombay High Court upheld the ban but allowed consumption and possession of beef procured from outside the state.
Since the promulgation of the ban, Maharashtra has seen numerous instances of violence over the issue with instances of vans carrying meat being torched on suspicion that they transported beef.
“Invariably, the driver is beaten up by self-appointed vigilantes. Why does the government want to have a parallel organisation when police are supposed to implement the Act?” said MIM MLA Imitaz Jaleel.
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