SRINAGAR:The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday directed the government to strictly implement an existing order which bans the sale of beef in the State, triggering angry reactions by locals and organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat Conference separatists.
A division bench of the J&K High Court comprising Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal passed the order following a PIL by a lawyer. In his plea, advocate Parimoksh Seth stated that in spite of the fact that penal provisions of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) make slaughtering or killing of bovine animals in J&K an offence punishable under section 298-A, and possession of slaughtered animal punishable under section 298-B of the RPC, the act is rampant in the State with the active connivance of authorities. The RPC was enacted in 1862 by the then Dogra Maharaja of the State.
After hearing the plea, the division bench observed that the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has not filed an appropriate response on smuggling and slaughtering of bovine animals and their sale. The court directed him to file an appropriate response during the next hearing and posted the matter for listing after four weeks. The bench also imposed ban on the sale of beef and asked the DGP to direct all SSPs, SPs, SHOs to ensure that the ban is strictly enforced.
The order has evoked strong opposition from the separatists, religious, political and social groups. Separatists, including hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, termed the ban an interference in the religious affairs of Muslims and called for a complete shutdown in the State on Saturday.
‘Not feasible in mumbai’
Mumbai: The Bombay HC said imposing a ban on sale of meat is not feasible in a metropolitan city like Mumbai and sought response from the State.
beef ‘ban’dwagon
Jaipur: The fever of banning meat and beef spread on Thursday with such directives being issued in Rajasthan and Ahmedabad as well.