Prohibition of cow slaughter

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

Provided that killing of a cow in an accident or self defence shall not be considered as slaughter under the Act. In sub-section (1) of section 16 of the principal Act,- (i) in clause (a), for the word “cows”, the words “cow or beef” shall be substituted; (ii) for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:- “(b) seize cow or beef in respect of which he suspects that any provision of this Act has been, is being or is about to be contravened, along with the vehicle in which such cow or beef is found, and thereafter take all measures necessary for securing the production of the cow or beef so seized, in a court and for the safe custody pending such production;”; (iii) for clause (c), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:- “(c) enter and search any premises used or intended to be used for the slaughter of cow and seize cow or beef and collect evidence from the spot including instruments and documents used or intended to be used regarding activities related to slaughter and export of cow or beef.”.