SC dismisses PIL seeking complete ban on cow slaughter in every state

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a complete ban on cow slaughter in every state.

The Court said that it has already passed orders on measures to stop illegal inter-state transportation of cattle, reported ANI.

Around 36 beef dealers associations across Maharashtra had in August filed a petition in the top court challenging the ban.

The dealers wanted the court to permit the slaughter of cattle - bulls and bullocks, not cows - of more than 16 years of age. They said that after the age of 16, cattle are too old to be used for farming and other activities.

The petition had challenged the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra Animals Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, that bans the slaughter, possession, consumption and import of beef in the state.

In March last year, the BJP-led state government had banned the slaughtering of bulls, bullocks and cows by amending the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1976, that was challenged in the Bombay High Court.

However, the Bombay High Court had in May upheld the ban on slaughter, while making it clear that mere possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside the state cannot invite criminal action.