Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has imposed a ban on sale of beef in the state.
A division bench of the J&K HC had passed the order yesterday while hearing a public interest litigation against cow slaughter.
The directive was widely reported in the media today with few realising that it was only the reiteration of an over 150-year-old law.
Because of its special status, the state has two penal codes, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), both of which have almost all sections in common except for a few.
Under section 298A of the RPC, intentionally killing or slaughtering a cow or like animal (including ox and buffalo) is a cognizable, non-bailable offence punishable with 10 years imprisonment and fine.
Under section 298B, possessing the flesh such an animal is a cognizable, non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment of one year and fine.
The RPC was enacted in 1862 by the then Dogra maharaja of the state while the IPC also came into force in India the same year.
A division bench of the high court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed the director general of police (DGP) on Wednesday to ensure strict compliance of the order on beef by issuing appropriate directions to all the senior superintendents (SSPs) and station house officers (SHOs) in the state.
