UP cabinet okays draft of prevention of cow slaughter ordinance

LUCKNOW : The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Ordinance-2020 that makes stricter provisions and provides for publication of pictures of accused at prominent places and prosecution of driver and owner of vehicle along with confiscation of the vehicle used for carrying beef, cow or its progeny.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath presided over the cabinet meeting via video conferencing.

Amendment has been proposed to section 5A of the Uttar Pradesh Cow Slaughter Prevention Act-1955 for the stricter ordinance.

The ordinance will provide for recovery of expenditure on the maintenance of the seized cows and progeny from the accused for a period of one year or till their release in favour of the owner, whichever is earlier. It further provides that if the beef or cow remains were proved to be in possession of the accused and transported things were confirmed to be beef, the court shall presume that such person has committed the offence,

unless proved to the contrary.

It also provides for not releasing the accused on bail unless the special prosecutor was given an opportunity to oppose the bail application.

Another provision added to the law provides for “whoever causes any physical injury to any cow or its progeny so as to endanger its life, such as to mutilate its body or transport it in any situation whereby endangering its life, or with the intention of endangering its life by not providing food or water, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not be less than one year, which may extend to seven years with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 1 lakh, which may extend to Rs 3 lakh.”