Supreme Court notice Maharashtra government on beef ban plea

The Maharashtra government was directed by the Supreme Court to respond to a plea challenging the Bombay High Court verdict which held that mere possession of beef from animals slaughtered outside the state cannot invite criminal action and struck down the law criminalizing it.

A bench headed by justice A K Sikri issued a notice to the state on the plea filed by Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh challenging the part of the high court which had held the provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act.

The high court had upheld the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks in state, striking down sections 5(d) and 9(b) of the Act, which criminalised and imposed punishment for possession of beef of animals slaughtered in the state or outside, the high court had held that the state cannot control what a citizen does in his house, which is his own castle, provided he is not doing something contrary to the law.

"Section 5(d) states that no person shall have in his possession flesh of cow, bull or bullock slaughtered outside Maharashtra is unconstitutional and infringes upon a citizen's right to privacy," the high court had said.

Under the Act, enforced in February 2015, slaughter attracts a five-year jail term and fine of Rs10,000. Possession of meat of bull or bullock hands over one-year jail term and fine of Rs2,000.