Beef Ban in Jammu & Kashmir, Repealed Through Article 370 Takedown, Must be Re-Enacted: Law Commission Tells Govt

Srinagar, September 27: The Jammu & Kashmir Law Commission has written to the government seeking the re-implementation of beef ban in the state. The ban on the slaughtering of cow and cow progeny, including buffalo, ox and bull was prohibited in the state till the imposition of Article 370. After its abrogation, 157 laws under the Ranbir Penal Code, including the law against bovine slaughter and consumption, were repealed. Killing in the Name of Religion an Insult of Hindu Dharma, Lord Rama, Says Shashi Tharoor on Cow Vigilantism.

The State Law Commission, headed by Justice (retd) MK Hanjura, has referred to the Ranbir Penal Code provisions ranging from 298-A to 298-D which categorically prohibited slaughter of bovine and consumption of beef. The provisions also defined the punishment to be slapped against those convicted under the law.

Under Section 298-A of the now-defunct Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), a person would be sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment if found to have killed a cow, ox, bull or calf. A fine was also to be levied against him,

As per Section 298-C, the person charged of killing a buffalo would have to serve a prison term of five years, along with a fine which would be upto five times the market price of the slain animal.

"The object of incorporating these sections in the RPC was to protect religious sentiments of all the sections of society living in length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir that comprised Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists," The Wire quoted the Law Commission report, addressed to J&K chief secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2019 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).