High Court orders Police to properly implement beef ban in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the police to ensure that there is no sale of beef anywhere in the state and strict action is taken against those who indulge in it.

The Division Bench comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed Director General of Police to ensure that appropriate directions are issued to all SSPs/SPs/SHOs of all districts and police stations in J&K that there is no sale on beef in anywhere in the state and strict action is taken in accordance with law against those who indulge in it.

The was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that contended that slaughtering and sale of bovine animals is rampant in some parts of the state which severely affected religious sentiments of a section of the society.

The PIL further stated that the practice continues despite the the fact that penal provisions of Ranbir Penal Code(the penal code that is applicable in the state of Jammu and Kashmir) make killing of bovine animals an offence punishable under Section 298-A. Under RPC possession of such slaughtered animal, an act punishable under Section 298-B of the RPC. The PIL also alleged connivance of authorities who are otherwise supposed to check this practice.

The Division Bench, after hearing Sr. Advocate Sunil Sethi for the PIL and AAG Vishal Sharma for the State, observed that Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has not filed an appropriate response regarding the smuggling and slaughtering of bovine animals and subsequently their sale especially in Kashmir valley and directed him to file appropriate response.