The News Minute | December 21, 2014 | 17.41 pm ISTThe cow slaughter Bill was on Saturday withdrawn from both the Houses by the State government amid protests by the opposition BJP who had introduced the Bill during their tenure.At present, the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act 1964 is in force. It allows the slaughter of bulls, bullocks and buffaloes aged above 12 years as long as their meat is healthy, and the slaughter of animals that have become permanently incapacitated for breeding, draught or giving milk due to injury, deformity or any other cause.However, when the BJP was in power, it sought a complete ban on the slaughter of cattle and had introduced the ‘The Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Protection Bill, 2010’ and was passed by both the Houses.This bill sought to prohibit slaughter of cows and calves of buffalo, bull, bullock, and for preservation and improvement of breeds of cattle in Karnataka. The law also prescribed stringent punishment for violations.The then Governor H R Bharadwaj had forwarded the legislation to the President. The President had returned the Bill asking to define the word ‘cattle.’ After making the due changes, the amended Bill was once again passed in both the houses, but the Governor did not act on it.