The Supreme Court stayed a Madras High Court order on July 13, 2026, which directed the Tamil Nadu government to enforce a state-wide prohibition on the slaughter of cows and calves.
The Madras High Court had observed that slaughter of animals could take place only in licensed slaughterhouses or places specifically designated by the competent authorities under the law.
“Slaughter cannot be done in any place you want… The question of carrying out slaughter in a non-designated place does not arise at all,” the High Court had observed, adding that the State authorities remained “duty-bound to enforce the applicable statutory provisions.”
“Since the executive power is co-terminus with the legislative power, a government order issued by the Government banning cow slaughter is very much sustainable and has to be enforced, as it has the force of law,” the High Court had said.
Which States have laws on cow slaughter?
The matter of cow slaughter comes under the State List of the Indian Constitution. “Preservation of Stock” falls under Entry 15 of the State List(List II) of the Seventh Schedule and thus states have the right to execute legislation on cattle.
In India, the legal framework across the states comes under three categories:
- Complete ban: Near-total prohibition on slaughter of cows, calves, and often bulls and bullocks.
- Partial ban: Some states have a prohibition on the slaughter of cows but allow certain other cattle to be slaughtered (if certified “fit for slaughter,” usually determined by age or utility of the animal).
- No ban: These states have no bans or very minimal restrictions on the slaughter of cattle.
States and Union Territories with complete ban on cow/bovine slaughter
Maharashtra
Enforces a total ban on the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, which imposes a Rs 10,000 fine and a 5-year jail term for the sale, purchase or possession of the meat of the above-specified animals.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh has an absolute prohibition on the slaughter, sale, and purchase of cows. First-time offenders 3 to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine ranging between ₹1 lakh and ₹5 lakh. The penalties double for repeat offenders, accompanied by a public display of the offender’s photographs and seizure of properties. Any vehicle caught illegally transporting cattle or beef is permanently seized. All of this is governed under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Act, 2020
Gujarat
Under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Amendment Act, 2017, the slaughter of cows, calves, bulls, and bullocks along with their transport is met with life imprisonment(minimum 7 years) and a fine ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Haryana
The Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, makes the slaughter of any cattle and the sale or possession of their beef is met with three to ten years of rigorous jail term and a fine ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 5 lakhs.
Karnataka
The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Prevention of Cattle Act, 2020 imposes a jail term of 3 to 7 years with rigorous punishment and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh.
Jharkhand
The Jharkhand Bovine Animal Prohibition of Slaughter Act, 2005 imposes imprisonment of up to 10 years or up to ₹10,000 fine with the option of both punishments being imposed.
Punjab
The Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 penalises the slaughter of cows or the sale or possession of beef with up to 10 years of rigorous punishment and up to ₹10,000 fine.
Rajasthan
The Rajasthan Bovine Animal Act, 1995, has a punishment of 1 to 10 years of rigorous incarceration and a fine of up to ₹10,000 for the slaughter, possession, or export of bovine animals.
Uttarakhand
The Uttarakhand Protection of Cow Progeny Act, 2007 imposes 3 to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹10,000 for the slaughter of cow progeny, possession of beef, or transport of animals for slaughter.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh Govansh Vadh Pratishedh Act, 2004, has up to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment and up to ₹50,000 fine for the slaughter of agricultural cattle or transport of such animals for slaughter.
Chhattisgarh
The Chhattisgarh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 2004, provides for up to 7 years’ imprisonment & up to ₹50,000 for the Slaughter of agricultural cattle or their transport for slaughter.
Maharashtra
The Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015 has a punishment of up to 5 years’ imprisonment & up to ₹10,000 fine, for the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks, or possession/sale of beef.
Delhi
The Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 1994, has a punishment of up to 5 years’ rigorous imprisonment & up to ₹10,000 fine, for the slaughter of cows and calves.
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Adaptation of State Laws) Second Order has life imprisonment(minimum of 7 years) and Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakhs fine for the slaughter or transport of cows, calves, heifers, bulls, and bullocks.
Chandigarh
Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955, extends to Chandigarh too and penalises the slaughter of cows or the commercial sale/possession of beef with up to 10 years rigorous imprisonment & up to ₹10,000 fine.
Jammu and Kashmir
The J&K Bovine Breeding Act, 2018 and the State Livestock Breeding Policy prohibit the slaughter or attempted slaughter of cows, oxen, or calves with up to 10 years imprisonment.
States and Union Territories with a partial ban on cow or bovine slaughter
Assam
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 has 3 to 8 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹ 3 lakh to ₹ 5lakh for the slaughter of cattle without a certificate; selling beef near temples/non-beef areas.
Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, enforces up to 3 years’ imprisonment or up to ₹1,000 fine (or both) for the slaughter of cattle under 10 years, or without a certificate showing the unfitness of the animal.
Odisha
The Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960, has up to 2 years’ imprisonment or up to ₹1,000 fine (or both) for the slaughter of cows, or slaughter of old cattle without a certificate mandating the slaughter of the animal.
Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1977, has up to 6 months’ imprisonment or up to ₹1,000 fine (or both) for the slaughter of cows or calves, or processing male cattle without a certificate.
Telangana
The Telangana Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act (1977 Framework) provides for up to 6 months’ imprisonment and/or up to ₹1,000 fine, for the slaughter of cows/calves, or processing male cattle without a certificate.
Bihar
The Bihar Preservation and Improvement of Animals Act, 1955 has up to 6 months imprisonment and up to Rs 1,000 fine for the slaughter of cows or calves and the slaughter of cattle under 15 to 25 years.
West Bengal
West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950 has up to six months imprisonment and a statutory fine for the slaughter of cattle under 14 years or without the possession of an unfitness certificate.
Goa
The Goa, Daman and Diu Animal Preservation Act, 1978, has only regulatory checks and no specific penal code for standard beef. It deals primarily with violating state veterinary clearance and health guidelines.
Puducherry
The Puducherry Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1968, has up to 2 years imprisonment or up to ₹1,000 fine (or both) for the slaughter of cows; processing alternative cattle without an unfitness certificate.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Animal Preservation Regulation has up to 6 months imprisonment or a minor statutory fine for the slaughter of bovines without an official veterinarian-issued age or utility certificate.
States and Union Territories with no ban on cow or bovine slaughter
Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, and Manipur have no legislative ban or penal statute pertaining to cow or bovine slaughter.
In Manipur, a historical decree discouraged the slaughter of cows but no modern state legislative ban exists.
