Cow slaughter banned in Goa since 1978

PANJIM: Goa was amongst the first states to have banned cow slaughter and it did it in 1978. 

The Goa, Daman & Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978 prohibits the slaughter of any cow in the State. 

Strengthening the ban on slaughter of cattle, the Goa Animal Preservation Act of 1995 was passed in 1996. This Act prohibits slaughter of bulls, bullocks, male calves, male and female buffaloes, castrated buffaloes and buffalo calves, unless a certificate is obtained in writing from the competent authority stating that the animal is fit for slaughter. 

Further the Act prohibits the slaughter of certified bovines at any place other than specified by the authority or officer appointed by the government.

However, cows suffering from any contagious or infectious disease notified by the government and those whose ‘destruction’ is desirable according to the veterinary officer or any officer of the Animal Husbandry Department, have been exempted under the Cow Slaughter Act.

Under the Cow Slaughter Act of 1978 the maximum penalty is rigorous imprisonment for a term of up to two years or fine of Rs 1000 or both.

Whereas, under the Goa Animal Preservation Act of 1995, for slaughtering scheduled animals, bovines, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to a term of three years.

Dr Santosh Desai informed Herald that the government machinery has ensured that the Acts are implemented. “There is only one legal slaughter house in the State, Goa Meat Complex at Usgao and all the animals slaughtered there are certified by veterinary doctors. There is a ban on cow slaughter. And there are laid down conditions and not a single animal is slaughtered against the rules,” he stated.