The Rajasthan government Tuesday approved amendments to the state cow protection and anti-cow slaughter law, incorporating provisions of arrest and seizure of vehicles carrying cow progeny. In a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Vasundhara Raje, the state government approved amendments to the Rajasthan Bovine Animals (Prohibition of Slaughter & Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 1995. The amendments will allow for seizure of any vehicle used for illegally carrying or smuggling cow progeny, besides making such an act punishable with arrest. The amended bill will be tabled in the coming session of the assembly and, once passed, will be sent for the assent of President Pranab Mukherjee. [related-post] “The current Act prohibits transportation of bovine animals but it does not have provisions for seizing the vehicle used in such an act or for arresting the persons engaged in cow smuggling,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore said. “Therefore a Section 6 (a) will be added to the Act allowing for seizure of vehicles. Also, section 12 (a) will be added to enable arrests of those persons involved in smuggling cows out of the state,” Rathore said.
