Maha justifies beef ban, says state still agri-dependent

Justifying its controversial ban on slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks and consumption of their meat, the Maharashtra government on Monday told the Bombay High Court that there is a need to protect and preserve these animals as the state’s economy is still predominantly agricultural.

The government, in an affidavit, said the ban introduced under Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, which has received Presidential assent, was not violative of the fundamental rights of citizens to have food of their own choice.

Besides, the government has decided to make it mandatory for children reform homes to enrol their inmates for Aadhaar cards in an attempt to improve the functioning of these facilities.

The enrolment is compulsory before the government allots additional grants over and above Rs 16 crore already earmarked in this year’s Budget for the welfare of these children, CM Devendra Fadnavis said.