Assam bans public beef consumption: A look at the strengthened 'The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021'

Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Assam cabinet on Wednesday decided to impose a statewide ban on serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places.

Announcing the decision in a presser, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reasoned that the state Assembly had approved a bill to protect cows in 2021 and Wednesday's decision was the successful culmination of that effort.

Reading out the added provisions of existing the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021, thereby adding more teeth to the legislation, the chief minister said: “The consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants, festivals, and community events has been prohibited. There will be no serving of beef in religious, social, and other public functions, and this provision will be added to strengthen the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021."

Is consumption of beef illegal in Assam?

Consumption of beef is not illegal in the state, but The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 regulates the transportation, and slaughter of all cattle, and sale of beef and beef products in the state.

Salient features of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021:

The act prohibits the slaughter of cows. Additionally, the act permits the slaughter of other cattle (bulls, bullocks and buffaloes) if the cattle is over 14 years of age or has become permanently incapacitated due to injury or deformity. The legislation also restricts intra-state and inter-state transport of cattle, and sale of beef except at permitted locations. The relevant authority may inspect and seize cattle and vehicles used for offences under the Act. Upon conviction, the seized cattle and vehicles will be forfeited to the state government.

The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 bans cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in the majority and within a five-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery). The ban has now been imposed in hotels, restaurants and public places across the state.

Wednesday's decision comes days after the Assam CM slammed the Congress for alleging that the BJP distributed beef to win elections in the Muslim-dominated area of Samaguri. The Chief Minister even said he was ready to ban beef in Assam if state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah writes to him, seeking it.