‘HC upholding ban on anti-Cow Slaughter Act boost to BJP govt’

Bengaluru, Jan 21 : Elated over the Karnataka High Court’s observation on the ban on cow slaughter is ‘constitutionally valid’, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said the court’s observation has come as a ‘major boost’ to the BJP government.
“The development in the High Court on Wednesday clears hurdles for the government to effectively implement the cow slaughter ordinance,” Yediyurappa said in a statement on Wednesday.
On January 5, the state government promulgated the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, which bans slaughter of cows, proposes hefty fine and punishment for slaughtering, smuggling cattle and offers protection to those ‘acting in good faith’ to save them.
According to Yediyurappa, the Court, after hearing the advocate general, observed that the issue relating to ban on cow slaughter was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Mirzapur’s case as being constitutionally-valid.
“The state government contended before the court that the ordinance was in consonance with the directive principles of state policy in the Constitution,” he said.
“And as per the 2019 census, 2,38,296 cattle are being slaughtered annually and on an average, it works out to 652 cattle per day,” the CM claimed.