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State of Gujarat v. Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab (2005)

Background

This landmark case dealt with the constitutional validity of a Gujarat law banning the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks, regardless of their age. The Gujarat government amended the "Bombay Animal Preservation Act, 1954" in 1994 to extend the ban to bulls and bullocks of all ages, making their slaughter completely illegal.

Members of the Qureshi community, traditionally engaged in butchery and meat trade, challenged this amendment. They argued that the ban violated their fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) (freedom to practice any profession or trade) and Article 21 (right to livelihood) of the Indian Constitution.

Key Issues Raised

  1. Validity of the complete ban
    The petitioners argued that the absolute ban was unfair as bulls and bullocks lose their economic utility after a certain age. They pointed out that the earlier law had permitted the slaughter of cattle above 16 years of age, which seemed reasonable.

  2. Violation of Fundamental Rights
    The butchers claimed the ban directly impacted their livelihood and profession, infringing on rights guaranteed by Article 21 and Article 19(1)(g).

  3. Justification under Article 48
    Article 48 of the Constitution’s Directive Principles of State Policy directs states to prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves, and other milch or draught animals. The debate was whether this included bulls and bullocks of all ages and whether a total ban was constitutionally valid.

Supreme Court Judgment (2005)

The seven-judge Constitution Bench upheld the Gujarat law, ruling in favor of the state. Here are the highlights of the judgment:

  • Complete Ban Upheld
    The court found the total ban constitutional, overruling the earlier provision that allowed slaughter for cattle over 16 years old.

  • Directive Principles Take Priority Over Fundamental Rights
    The court emphasized that implementing Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 48) outweighed certain individual rights in this instance. Protecting cattle served a greater public interest and aligned with the constitutional goals of animal preservation.

  • Economic Hardships Cannot Nullify a Public Interest Law
    The bench dismissed the petitioners' claim of livelihood loss under Article 21, stating that financial difficulties alone could not justify overturning a law enacted for the public good.

  • Scientific and Economic Rationale
    Expert opinions highlighted that even aged cattle remain valuable, contributing to agriculture through dung used for bio-fertilizers and biogas production. The judgment recognized that indiscriminate cattle slaughter harmed rural economies more than it benefited the meat industry.

Conclusion

This case marked a major milestone in India’s cow protection jurisprudence. It reinforced the principle that Directive Principles of State Policy, such as protecting milch and draught cattle, can take precedence over certain fundamental rights, provided they serve a broader societal purpose. The Supreme Court’s decision validated the Gujarat law, creating a stronger framework for cattle preservation.


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