(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Punjab.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context

(a) beef means flesh of cow in any form but does not include flesh of cow contained in sealed containers and imported into Punjab;

(b) beef-products include extraction from beef;

(c) cow includes a bull, bullock, ox, heifer, or calf;

(d) prescribed means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(e) slaughter means killing by any method whatsoever and includes maiming and inflicting of physicial injury which in the ordinary course will cause death;

(f) Government means the Goverment of Punjab; and

(g) uneconomic cow includes stray, unprotected, infirm, disabled, diseased or barren cow.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or any usage or custom to the cotrary, no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter any cow in any place in Punjab;

Provided that killing of a cow by accident or in self defence will not be considered as slaughter under the Act.

(1) Nothing in section 3 shall apply to the slaughter of a cow

(a) Whose suffering is such as to render its destruction desirable according to the certificate of the Veterinary Officer of the area or such other Officer of the Animal Husbandry Department as may be prescribed; or

(b) Which is suffering from any contagious or infectious disease notified as such by the Goverment; or

(c) Which is subjected to experimentation in the interest of medical and public health research by a certified medical practitioner of the Animal Husbandry Department.

(2) Where it is intended to slaughter a cow for the reasons specified in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) it shall be incumbent for a person doing so to obtain the prior permission in writing of the Veterinary Officer of the Area or such other Officer of the Animal Husbandry Department as may be prescribed.

Execept as herein excepted and notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no person shall sell or offer for sale or cause to sold beef or beef-products in any form except for such medical purposes as may be prescribed.

There shall be established by the Government or by any local authority, when so directed by the Government, institutions for the reception, maintenance and care of uneconomic cows.

The State Government or the Local authority, if so authorised, may levy such fees as may be prescribed for care and maintenance of uneconomic cows in the institution.

(1) Whoever contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the provisions of section 3 or 5 shall be guilty of an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.

(2) Whoever fails to lodge the information in the manner and within the time stated in sub-section (2) of section 4 shall be guilty of an offence punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.

(3) Burden of proof. In any trial for an offence punishable under sub-section (2) or sub-section (2) the burden of proving that the slaughtered cow belonged to the class specified in clause (a) or (b) of sub-section (1) of section 4 shall be on the accused.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, an offence punishable under sub-section (1) of section 8 shall be cognisable and non-bailable.

(1) The State Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of foregoing powers, such rules may provide for

(a) the conditions and the circumstances under which cows may be slauhgtered under sub-section (1) of section 4;

(b) the manner in which diseases shall be notified under sub-section (1)(b) of section 4;

(c) the manner in which permission shall be obtained under sub-section (2) of section 4;

(d) the form and contents of the certificate mentioned in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 4 and the authoritie competent to grant it;

(e) the manner in which and conditions under which beef or beef-products are to be sold under section 5;

(f) the matters relating to the establishment, maintenance, management, supervision, and control of institutions referred to in section 6;

(g) the duties of any officer or authority having jurisdiction under this Act, the procedure to be followed by such officer or authority; and

(h) the matters which are to be and may be prescribed.

1. For Staetment of Objects and Reasons see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary), 1955 page 831.

2. For Statement of Objects and Reasons see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary) 1958, page 1487.

3. Received the assent of the President of India oil the 21st June, 1956, and was first Published for general information in the Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary) dated the 27th June, 1956.