The Haryana Assembly passed the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Bill on Monday with two amendments, paving the way for prohibiting the slaughter of cow and its progeny and providing punishment of up to 10 years with a fine ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for any violation.
The Bill seeks to conserve and develop indigenous breeds of cows and to establish institutions to keep, maintain and care infirm, injured, stray and uneconomic cows in the State.
Under its provisions, anyone found guilty of cow slaughter would be liable for imprisonment ranging from three years to 10 years, along with fines from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1 lakh. The killing of a cow in an accident or for self-defence will not be considered slaughter.
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As per the Bill, any person found exporting a cow for the purpose of slaughter either directly or through his agent or servant or any other person can be awarded rigorous imprisonment for not less than three years, which may extend up to seven years with fines ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 70,000.
Similarly, sale of beef will be banned in the State and violation of the ban will entail rigorous imprisonment for not less than three years and up to five years with a fine of up to Rs. 50,000. In case of non-payment of fine, all violators will have to spend an extra year in imprisonment.
For exporting a cow out of the State, people will have to apply for permit and file a declaration that cows for which permit for export is required will not be slaughtered. However, no permit for export of cows will be issued for a State where cow slaughter is not banned.
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The government or a local authority will establish an institution to accept, keep, maintain and care for infirm, injured, stray and uneconomic cows.
The Bill authorises any police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector or any person authorised on behalf of the government to enter, stop and search any vehicle used or intended to be used for export of cows.