Mumbai, May 6: The Bombay High Court on Friday pronounced the judgement on a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the beef ban in Maharashtra.
According to news agency, the Bombay HC has passed order, which says that beef ban will continue in Maharashtra.
A ban on cow and bullock slaughtering to continue but beef possession (if brought from outside Maharashtra) is not a criminal offence, ruled the HC.
A division bench of Justices AS Oka and SC Gupte had reserved the ruling in January after hearing the arguments.
In February 2015, the President 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 meat of bull or bullock attracts one-year in jail and Rs 2,000 fine.
During the hearing, the HC had refused to grant interim stay to the provisions penalising the possession of beef.
Arif Kapadia, a city resident, and noted lawyer Harish Jagtiani had challenged the provision which says mere possession of beef anywhere in the state is a crime.
This is arbitrary and undermines the cosmopolitan nature of the city which houses people from all religions and communities, they had contended.
Other petitions had been filed by Vishal Sheth, a lawyer, and Shaina Sen, a student, contending that the ban on beef violates fundamental rights of citizens.
Welcoming the move Dr Arathi Krishna told coastaldigst.com that Indians stranded in any foreign country can utilize this facility. "Initially, I was approached by Mr Zakaria and Mr Sheik who wanted chartered flights to help their employees fly back to India. I asked them to write to the Indian Ambassador in Saudi Araia Mr Ausaf Sayeed. Then I requested the ambassador to forward the request to Joint Secretary Dr Nagendra Prasad, who is in charge of gulf division in the Ministry of External Affairs, and then to Secretary on charge of Gulf and then I requested Secretary of Economic Relations Mr T S Tirumurti who was also in charge of Gulf to follow this up," she said. 
Comments
Rat poisoning should also be banned because it is vehicle of so called God Ganesh. if everyone kills rat Ganesh will have no vehicle to ride to save and serve his devotees.
Why not other items like chicken, pork, fish and mutton not touched by the law. All lives are equally important but why this special category. Then all should be asked to be vegetarians
One thing which Fadnavis should have concentrated is to make possession of cow and bulls attractive proposition to holders rather than go for ban on slaughter. this he would have achieved by making green every where, make water available and feed available, provide effective cost recovery of produce .. instead by banning he is burdening people who possess assets as cattle more marginalized and economically poorer .. his vision and his party''s vision is self centered and lacks focus of economics but working against poor, marginalized farmers, dalits and minorities,,, classic case of intolerance, stupidity and religious bigotry,, he deserves to be sacked ..
Beef ban is on possession too. only beef procured from outside maharashtra allowed.but that we will handle by other
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