The Supreme Court today sought the response of Maharashtra government on a plea challenging a Bombay High Court verdict which held that mere possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside the state cannot invite criminal action.
A bench of Justices A K Sikri and D Y Chandrachud issued notice to the state on the plea filed by ‘Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh’.
The High Court in its May 6th verdict had said provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, which criminalise possession of beef, is an infringement on the right to privacy of citizens and unconstitutional.
The High Court had also upheld the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks in Maharashtra while striking down two sections of the state Act which criminalised possession of beef.
In February last year, the President had granted sanction to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act. While the Act had banned slaughter of cows way back in 1976, the recent amendments prohibited slaughter of bulls and bullocks, possession and consumption of their meat.
As per the Act, slaughter attracts a five-year jail term and 10,000 rupees fine and possession of meat of bull or bullock hands over one-year jail and 2,000 rupees fine.