Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 11: The state high court (HC) which was hearing a batch of public interest litigations (PIL) questioning the validity of The Karnataka Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, has posted the final hearing on them to November 15. Separate PILs submitted by the city-based social activist Arif Jameel, owners of slaughterhouses and beef traders, are being heard by a division bench of the HC comprising acting Chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma andJustice Sachin Shankar Mugdum.

Advocate general, Prabhulinga Navadagi, informed the court that the HC had informed that all the petitions and interim applications relating to the case will be heard together. Considering this, the bench fixed November 15 as the date of next hearing and said it will hear all the arguments that day.,

When the case had come up for hearing the previous time, Parabhulinga had strongly supported the act, pointing out the important contributions of the cattle to the GDP and dependence of farmers on animals for agricultural activities. The state government in its objections, also had pointed out the importance of dung and urine of the cattle in agriculture and the importance of the cattle in agriculture and procreation.

The act was passed through an ordinance after the legislative council did not approve the bill. The petitioners have questioned the need for bringing ordinance at a time when the act is in force since 1964. They argued that the ordinance was issued against the basic principles of the constitution and to snatch the right to food of the Muslims, Dalits and minorities. The petitioners have sought annulment of the ordinance.