Subramanian Swamy introduces Cow Protection Bill in Rajya Sabha, seeks death penalty for slaughter

While proposing ban on cow slaughter, the bill mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi "wished" so.

Written by: Chanchal Chauhan

Published: March 25, 2017, 9:10 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/subramanian-swamy-introduces-cow-protection-bill-in-rajya-sabha-seeks-death-penalty-for-slaughter-1959877/ Copy

जवाहरलाल नेहरू यूनिवर्सिटी (जेएनयू) में बीजेपी नेता डॉ. सुब्रमण्यन स्वामी का भाषण कार्यक्रम रद्द होने से नया विवाद पैदा हो गया है...

New Delhi, Mar 25: Keeping up to his promise, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Subramanian Swamy on Friday introduced the Cow Protection Bill, 2017 (a private member bill) that seeks “deterrent punishment”, including death penalty for cow slaughter. In fact, while proposing ban on cow slaughter, the bill mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi “wished” so.

As per the Cow Protection Bill, 2017, it seeks “to create an authority to ensure stabilisation of population of cows and to suggest such measures to comply with Article 37 and 48 of the Constitution, to ban the slaugher of cow and to provide deterrent punishment including death penalty for slaughter of cow and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”

WHAT DOES ARTICLE 37 and 48 SAY?

The Article 37 says that the provisions of Directive Principles are not enforceable by any court. It emphasises that it is the duty of the state to apply these principles in making laws to establish a just society.

The Article 48 instructs the state to ban the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.

COW PROTECTION BILL, 2017

1. The bill mentions that the authority should have Animal Husbandry Secretary and five renowned persons from fields like agricultural economics, animal welfare and and ancient Indian history or culture.
2. The authority will have functions including undertaking a baseline study to collect data about cow population and to formulate a qualitative cow dignity index (CDI).
3. It also says that the Authority spread awareness about importance of cows protection and development all over the country through a syllabus.
4. The Statement of Object and Reasons of the Cow Protection Bill says, “….a law be enacted to ban the slaughter of all cows as wished by Mahatma Gandhi as an imperative for free Independent India and to recommend punishment including death penalty as a necessary deterrent for the prevention of the criminal offence of cow slaughter.”
5. The bill says that schemes should be formulated for health of cows and calves.
6. It also says that the schemes should provide funds to help incentivise adoption of cow and setting up Gowshalas.
7. “The authority should also recommend to the central government, deterrent penalties including death penalty, to those who commit offences against cows,” the bill says.
8. As per the bill, the authority should prepare an annual report to be tabled in Parliament.

In the parliamentary history, only one such private member’s bill has so far become a law.