Delhi court rejects plea seeking ban on beef, cow slaughter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea seeking to ban cow slaughter and the sale of beef in the national capital region, Indian media reported on Friday.

Filed by Swami Satyananda Chakradhari, a man claiming to be a monk, the plea sought the Delhi government to enact a law similar to the one in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which penalizes the slaughter of bovine animals with 10 years imprisonment and financial penalty.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath declined to entertain the plea after the Delhi government – led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – informed the court that a law, the 'Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act', already exists to protect cattle.

A counsel for the state government told the court that the petition was a publicity stunt and should be dismissed with exemplary cost.

"The writ petition is misconceived and same is dismissed," the bench said, taking note of the submissions of Delhi government's counsel. The court further observed that it cannot issue orders to the state government to enact any laws.