The Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act, 1977

(1) This Act may be called the Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act, 1977.

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

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 19th December, 1976.

It is hereby declared that this Act is for giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing the principles specified in Article 48 of the Constitution of India.

The Government may, by notification, appoint a person or a body of persons to perform the functions of a competent authority under this Act for such local area as may be specified in such notification.

Notwithstanding anything in any other law for the time being in force or any custom or usage to the contrary, no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered, or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter or otherwise intentionally, kill or offer or cause to be offered for killing, any cow or calf, whether male or female, of a she-buffaloe.

(1) Notwithstanding anything in any other law for the time being in force or any custom or usage to the contrary, no person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter any animal other than a calf, whether male or female, of a she-buffaloe, unless he has obtained in respect of such animal a certificate in writing from the competent authority appointed for the area that the animal is fit for slaughter.

(2) No certificate shall be granted under sub-section (1), if in the opinion of the competent authority the animal is or is likely to become economical for the purpose of,-

(a) breeding, or

(b) draught or any kind of agricultural operations; or

(c) giving milk or bearing off-spring:

Provided that no certificate under sub-section (1) shall be refused to be granted unless the reasons for such refusal are recorded in writing.

(3) A certificate under this section shall be granted in such form and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

No animal in respect of which a certificate has been granted under section 6, shall be slaughtered in any place other than a place specified by such authority or officer as the Government may appoint in this behalf.

Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 1,000, or with both.

Notwithstanding anything in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, all offences under this Act shall be cognizable.

Whoever abets any offence punishable under this Act or attempts to commit any such offence, shall be punished with the punishment provided in this Act for such offence.

All persons exercising powers under this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against the competent authority or any person exercising powers under this Act, for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or the rules made thereunder.

Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in this behalf, the provisions of this Act shall not apply to,-

(a) any animal operated upon for vaccine, lymph, serum or any experimental or research purpose at an institution established, conducted or recognised by the Government; or

(b) any cow or animal-

(i) slaughter of which is certified by a Veterinary Officer authorised by the Government, to be necessary in the interests of the public health;

(ii) which is suffering from any disease which is certified by a Veterinary Officer authorised by the Government as being contagious and dangerous to other animals.

The Government may, by notification, delegate –

(i) to any local authority, their powers under section 4, within the local area subject to the jurisdiction of such local authority;

(ii) to any officer of the Government, their powers under sub-section (1) of section 7.

(1) The Government may establish, or direct any local authority or society registered under the law relating to the registration of societies for the time being in force in the State, or any association or body of persons, to establish institutions at such places as may be deemed necessary for taking care of cows or other animals sent thereto.

(2) The Government may provide by rules for the proper management of such institutions for the care of cows or other animals therein and also for the class or variety of cows or other animals that may be admitted therein.

(3) The Government, or subject to the previous sanction of the Government, the local authority, society or body of persons or association establishing an institution under sub-section (1), may levy such fees as may be prescribed for the maintenance of such institutions.

(1) The Government may, by notification, after previous publication, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for-

(a) the powers and duties of competent authority in addition to those provided in this Act;

(b) the form of the certificate under section 6;

(c) the amount of fee to be paid under section 6;

(d) the conditions subject to which this Act shall not apply to any animal under section 15;

(e) the management of institutions established under section 17 and the fee to be levied for their maintenance; and

(f) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed.

(3) Every rule made under this section shall immediately after it is made, be laid before each House of the State Legislature if it is in session and if it is not in the session in the session immediately following, for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session, or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both Houses agree in making any modification in the ruIe or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment is notified, have effect only in such modified form or shall, stand annulled, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done, under that rule.

The Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) (Slaughter of Animals) Act, 1950, and the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter and Animal Preservation Ordinance, 1976, are hereby repealed.