The ASSAM CATTLE PRESERVATION ACT, 1950
:t, ASSAM ACT XIII OF 1951
te
le "'THE ASSAM CATTLE PRESERVATION ACT, 1950

ll [PublishcJ in Lhe _Assam_ _Gazette,_ dated the 25th April 1951]

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**An** Act to provide fo r the preservation of certain cattle by **controlling the**

:;laughter thereof

le
0 Whereas it is ex pedient 10 provide for the preservation of certain cattle

by controlling the slaughter thereof ;

.e It is hereby enacted as follows :-
**h** 1. Short title., extent mid 1.:-0mmcncemcnt.--( 1) This Act may be called

**·C** the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1951.

**n** (2) It cxtenC!s to the wh ole of the State of Assam.

(3) It sha ll come into force on such date mtd in such areas as the State

Government may, by notifica tion in the official Gazette. appoint in this behalf.

2. Applicat!on of l\ ~·t,-· -Th is Act applies to the cattle specified ic the

Schedule.

''For Statem,:11h of Objects and R.:asons _.1ee_ "Assa m Gazett<:!". 1950. Part V,

page 4.


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3. Definitious.-In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the sub-

ject or context,- . · 1

_A_

(i) "cattle" means an animal to which this Act applies ;

II

(ii) "certifying officer" means an official or non-official :appointed as such ;

(iii) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act ; . c

(iv) "veterinary officer<' means a person appointed as such or invested ·

sl

with the powers of a veterinary_ otfice.r under section: 4.
4. Appointment of certifying officer and· veterinary oflicer.-The State

tl

Government may, for the purpose of issuing certificate under sub-section (1) of

p

section 5, by notification in the official Gazette appoint,-

(a) any person to be the certifying officer for any local area, and
(b) any person to be the veterinary officer for any local area or invest
any person with all or any of the powers of a veterinary officer in such
area.
5. Prohibition of slaughter of cattle without certificate.-(1) Notwith-

0

standing anything in any other law for the time being in force or in any usage

i

to the contrary, no person shall slaughter any cattle unless he has obtained in

#### t

respect thereof a certificate in writing signed by the certifying officer and the
veterinary officer for the area in which the cattle is to be slaugbtered · that fh.e '

cattle is fit for slaughter. .             -

(2) No certificate under sub-section (1) shall be issued unless the certify-

ing officer and the veterinary officer are of the opinion (which shall be recorded) .
### that-
( a) the cattle is over fourteen years of age and unfit for work or breeding;

or
(b) the cattle has become permanently incapacitated from work or breed-

ing due to age, injury, deformity or any incurable disease.

(3) Where there is a difference of opinion between the certifying officer

and the veterinary officer as to the issue of a certific ate under this section, the
cattle in respec.t of which the certificate has been asked for shall not be slaughtered . .

(4) Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the certifying officer and the .

veterinary officer to issue a certificate under this section may, within fifteen days
from the date of communication to hini of such refusal, appeal to the State. '
Government against- the order of refusal, and the State Government may pass
such orders thereon as it thinks fit.

(5) The State Government may at any time for the purpose of satisfying

itself as to the legality or propriety of any action taken under this section, call

for and examine the record of any case, and may pass such orders thereon as it

thinks fit.             -

                 - (6) Subject to the provisions of this section, any action taken under this
section shall be final and shall not be called in question in . any Court.
6. Prohibition of slaughter of cattle in places not prescribed for the pur·

#### pose.-No cattle in respect of which a certificate has been issued under section 5 •
shall be slaughtered in any place other than a place prescribed in this behalf.

7. Power to enter and inspect premises.-(1) For the purpose of enforcing

the provisions pf this Act, the certifying officer or the veterinary officer or any
person authorised by the veterinary officer in writing in this behalf, shall have

po~er to enter and inspect any premises within the local limits of his jurisdiction
where he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act has been or is
likely. to be committed.

(2) Every person in occupation of any such premises as is specified in
sub-section (1) shall anow the certifying officer, the veterinary officer or the
person authorised, as the case may be· such access to the premises as . he may
require for the aforesaid purpose, .and shall answer any question put to him
by _the certifying officer, the veterinary officer or the person authorised, as the ,

case may be to the best of bis knowledge or belief.


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379

I• 8. Penaltics.--Whoevcr contravenes any of the provisions contained in this

Act shall be puni shabl e wi lit imprisonment for a term which may extend to six
m on th s, or with line which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

9. Offences to· be cogoizabk.-N otwithstanding anything contained in the
Code of Criminal Proced ure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), all offences under this Act

d

shall be cognizable.

10. Abetments and aHempts.-Whoever abets any offence punishable under

te

thi s Act or attempts to commit any such offence shall be punished with the

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punishment provided in this A ct for such offence.

11 . Ofiicers exercising p owers. under this Act deemed to be **public**

servants.- All certifying omce rs, veterinary otticers and other persons exercising

st

powers under this Act sha ll be dee med to be public servants within the meaning

:h

of section 21 of tile Indian Penal Code (Act XL V of 1860).

12. Protedion of persons acting in good faith.-No suit, prosecution or

h-

oth er legal proceeding sha ll be in st itu ted aga inst any person for anything which

ge

is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or the rules made

in

thereunder.

lie

13. Power to grant exem1Jtions.-The State Government may, by general

JC

or special order and subj ec t to s uch conditions as it may think fit to impose,
exempt from the operation of this Act the slaughter of any cattle for any

'y-

relig;ous, ceremonial, medicinal, research or any other purposes ;

d)

Provided that tb e operatio n of this Act will not be applicable to slaughter

D' . of any cattle on the occasion of Id-uz-Zuha festival on such conditions as the

### " ' State Government may specify regarding privacy.

14. Delegation of f1.rn1ctions.-The State Government may, by notification

:d-

in the official Gazette, delega te to any officer of the State Government all or any
of its powers or functi ons und er sub-sections (4) and (5) of section 5, or section

:er

13.

he

15 . Power to m!llirn rules.-(1) The State Government may, by notification

~d. in the of-Iicial Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
:he

(2) In partic ular and wi thout prejudice to the generality of the foregoing

iys

power. s uch rules may p ro vide for-

ate

(a) the terms and cond itions of service of the certifying officers and the

ass

veterin ary officers appointed under this Act ;

(b) the form a nd manner in which a pplications for certificates under

ing

section 5 shall be made ;

;all

(c) the fees payabl e for any certificate which may be issued under section

; it

5 ancl the form of such certificates ;

(d) the places in which cattle may be slaughtered in pursuance of this

:his

Act;

(e) the conditions subject to which the slaughter of auy cattle may be

1ur-

permitted und er sec ti on 13.

a 5

:ing

THE SCHEDlJLF

any
ave

_(See_ section 2)

ti on

Bulls.

r is

Bullocks.

l in Cows.
the

Calves.

n ay
him Male and femal e buffaloes.
the Buffalo calves .


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