HC orders police to ensure there is no sale of beef in J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir high court has directed the police to ensure that there is no sale of beef anywhere in the state and that strict action is taken against those who violate the law.

"The director general of police in the meantime is directed to ensure that appropriate directions are issued to all the SSPs/SPs, SHOs of various police districts so that there is no sale of beef anywhere in the state of J&K and strict action is taken in accordance with law against those who indulge in it," a division bench has observed.

The direction came from the bench comprising justices Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Janak Raj Kotwal on Tuesday on a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Parimoksh Seth.

The PIL wanted that slaughtering or killing of bovine animals be made an offence punishable under section 298-A and possession of such slaughtered animal an act punishable under section 298-B of Ranbir Penal Code.

After hearing the counsel from both sides, the bench observed, "Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has not filed an appropriate response regarding the smuggling and slaughtering of bovine animal and subsequent their sale especially in Kashmir Valley."

The court also posted the matter for listing after four weeks.