Known for its love for the cow, the Manohar Lal Khattar Government on Tuesday gave nod to stricter provisions under the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act 2015, entailing police to seize the vehicle involved in the transportation of animals for slaughtering and search the premises used for such a purpose.

A cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal amended the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015.

A police official or an authorised official in Haryana can now stop and search a vehicle used or intended to be used for transportation of cows or beef.

“The new Bill will be called the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to make it more strict and practical,” said an official spokesman.

The Haryana Assembly had passed the Bill in 2015, which later became an Act, by which the slaughtering of cow and the sale of beef in the state was banned. Haryana was among the first states in the country to enact the Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, imposing a strict ban on cow slaughter apart from curtailing smuggling of cows outside the state. It provides for a rigorous imprisonment ranging from three years to ten years for cow slaughter and provides for a fine from Rs 30,000 to Rs one lakh.

As per the amendment, any police officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, or any person authorised by the government can stop and search a vehicle used or intended to be used for cow or beef transportation.

“He may seize cows or beef along with the vehicle in which the animal or its flesh is found and, thereafter, take all measures necessary for securing the production of the cows or beef so seized in a court,” the spokesman said.

“He may enter and search any premises used or intended to be used for the slaughter of cows and seize the animal or beef and collect evidence from the spot, including instruments and documents used or intended to be used regarding activities related to the slaughter and the sale of cow or beef,” as per the amendment.

Whenever an offence punishable under this Act is committed, a report about the same without unreasonable delay be made by the person seizing it to the competent authority. Before the confiscation of the vehicle used for the sale of cows or beef for the purpose of slaughtering, a reasonable opportunity of being heard will be afforded to its owner, the spokesman said while giving details about the amendment made.

The state has 18.08 lakh cattle, as per the 2012 livestock census. There are more than three lakh cattle in around 430 gaushalas in the state.

Among various initiatives taken by the State Government for cow protection, included ear-tagging of cattle, proposal of construction of cow sanctuaries in rural areas, cow hostels in major cities and gaushalas in jails.

Two separate bodies approved for Ambala city and Ambala Sadar

The cabinet approved the proposal for constituting two separate bodies that is Municipal Corporation, Ambala City with inclusion of 12 adjoining villages and Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar with exclusion of Sadar Zone from Municipal Corporation, Ambala.

“Ambala Sadar is situated at a distance of around 10 to 12 kms from the main Municipal Corporation office at Ambala City. The Municipal Commissioner of the Corporation and all the branch heads have their offices in the main office,” the spokesman said.

Apart from this, most of the villages of Ambala Sadar Zone area are situated further away from the main office. For most of their municipal works and redressal of grievances, the people of Ambala Sadar area have to visit Corporation office located at Ambala City, he added.