The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to extend to the India-Bangladesh border areas the rules framed to counter cross-border cattle smuggling to Nepal.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar was informed by government counsel that the Livestock Animals Rules and Case Property Animals Maintenance Rules to prevent cattle-smuggling across the Nepal border, framed in December 2016 on the basis of the Supreme Court’s orders, were now with the Union Law Ministry prior to its notification.
The government said the rules would have far-reaching effect on the authorities’ efforts to curb cattle-smuggling and they envisaged joint action by paramilitary forces and the district administrations.
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Earlier on Monday, the Centre had proposed issuing “unique identification number sequences” for cows and their progeny to protect them from cattle smuggling.
“ ... Government of India, has devised a method of tamper-proof identification of cattle using polyurethene tags with unique identification number sequence. This may be made mandatory for all cow and its progeny throughout India for all cattle that is owned,” said a government panel report in the Supreme Court.