The Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 (Punjab Act No. 15 of 1956)

1955 Pb: Act 15] Tar PUNJAB PRoHIBITION OF 437 Cow SLAUGHTER THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 PunsaB Act NO, 15 OF 1956. Table of Contents SECTIONS Paces Short title extent and commencement Definitions Prohibition of cow slaughter Exceptions Prohibition of sale of beaf Establishment of institutions Levy of charges of fees Penalty Offences to be cognisable and non-bailable S e o n n a n p w n Power to make rules — Oo . 1986Pb. Act, 15) THs PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW 439 SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 1THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955. Punjab Act No. 15 of 1956. ; [Received the assent of the President of India Dd "oni the 21st June, 1956, and was first Published for general information in the Punjab Government Gazette (Extra ordinary) dated the 27th June, 1956]. 1 2 3 4 Year No. Short Title Wheteer affectrd by legis lation. 1956 15 The Punjab Prohipjtion Extended. toPepsu Territory of CoN, Slaughter by Punjab Act 5, of 1959 2 Act, 55. An Act to prohibit the slaughter of cow and its progeny in Punjab. Bg it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :-— 1. (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Pro- Short title, ex: hibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955. tent and com mencement. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Punjab. (3) It shall come into force at once. 2. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context— Definitions, ~¢ ' (a) “beef” means flesh of cow in any form but does not include flesh of cow contained in sealed containers and imported into Punjab ; (6) ‘‘beef-products” include extraction from beef; (c) “cow” includes a bull, bullock, ox, heifer, or calf ; 1. For Staetment of Objects and Reasons see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary), 1955 page 831. 2 For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary) 1958,page 1487. : a | | 440. THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION oF Cow: [1956 Pb. Act 15 SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 SS (d) “prescribed” means prescribed byrules made under this Act; (e) “slaughter? means killing by any method whatsoever and includes maiming and inflicting of physicial injury which in the ordinary course will cause death ; (f) “Government “ means the Goverment of e Punjab ; and (g) “uneconomic cow“ includes stray, unprotected, infirm, disabled, diseased or barren cow. Prohibition of 3. Notwithstanding anything contained in any cow slaughter. other law for the time being in force or any usage OF custom to the cotrary, no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter any cow in any place in Punjab ; . ~ Provided that killing of a cow by accident or in self defence will not be considered as slaughter under the Act. 4. (J) Nothing in section 3 shall apply to the Exceptions. : . slaughter of a cow—. a, | (a) Whose suffering is such as to render its des truction desirable according to the certi ficate of the Veterinary Officer of the area or such other Officer of the Animal Husbandry Department as may be prescribed ; or | (b) Which is suffering from any contagious or infectious disease notifed as such by the | Goverment ; or | (c) Which is subjected to experimentation in the ee interest of medical and public health research by a certified medicl practitioner of the Animal Husbandry Department. (2) Where it is intended to slaughter a cow for the reasons specified in clause (a) or clause (b) of subsection (1) it shall be incumbent for a person doing so | to obtain the prior permission in writing of the Veterinary | Officer of the Area or such other Officer of the Animal Husbandry Department as may be prescribed: 1956 Pb. Act 15] THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF Cow 44} SLAUGHTER Act, 1955 5. Execept as herein excepted and notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no person shall sell or offer for sale or cause to sold beef or beef-products in any form except for such medical purposes as may be prescribed. 6. There shall be established by the Govern ment or by any local authority, when so directed by the Government, institutions for the reception, maintenance and care of uneconomic cows. 7. The State Government or the Local authority, if so authorised, may levy such fees as may be prescribed for care and maintenance of uneconomic cows in the institution, 8. (7) Whoever contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the provi sions of section 3 or 5 shall be guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to two yearsor with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both. (2) Whoever fails to lodge the information in the manner and within the time stated in subsection (2) of section 4 shall be guilty of an offence punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both. (3) In any trial for an offence punishable under subsection (J) or subsection (2) the burden of proving that the slaughtered cow belonged to the class specified in clause (a) or (b) of subsection (J) of section 4 shall be onthe accused. 9. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, an offence punishable under subsection (/) of section 8 shall be cognisable and non-bailable. 10. (1) The State Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act. Prohibition of sale of beef. Establishment of institutions. Levy of charges of fees. Penalty. Burden of proof. Offences to be cognisable and non-bailable. Power to make rules. | | 442 THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF cow [1956; Pb. Act 15 SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 (2) Without prejudice to the generality of fore- | going powers, such rules may provide for— | (a) the conditions and the circumstances under ' which cows may be slauhgtered under sub section (Z) of section 4 ; (6) the manner in which diseases shall be notified . under subsection (/) (b) of section 4;. e (c) the manner in which permission shall be obtained under subsection (2) of section 4 ; (d) the form and contents of the certificate mentioned in clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 4 and the authoritie compe tent to grant it ; | (¢) the manner in which and conditions under which beef or beef-products are to be sold under section 5 ; | (f) the matters relating to the establishment, maintenance, management, supervision, ! and control of institutions referred to in section 6; | (g) the duties of any officer or authority having Jurisdiction under this Act, the procedure to be followed by such officer or authority; and | | (4) the matters which are to be and may be | prescribed.