Mumbai: The Bombay High Court in a significant judgment today said that beef ban in Maharashtra will continue but made it clear that the possession of beef, if brought from outside Maharashtra, is not a criminal offence.
A division bench of Justices AS Oka and SC Gupte passed the order while hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the beef ban in Maharashtra.
It should be recalled that the President granted assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act in February 2015 that banned slaughter of bulls and bullocks in addition of cows. It also banned possession and consumption of their meat.
The act provided for five-year jail-term and Rs 10,000 fine to those found involved in slaughtering of these animals. It also imposed one-year in jail and Rs 2,000 fine for those who were proved guilty for possession of the 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.
