The Allahabad High Court has ruled against the confiscation of a transport vehicle under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. The court directed the state government to pay Rs 2 lakh in damages to the vehicle owner due to lack of conclusive proof that the seized meat was beef.
The court set aside previous orders affirming the confiscation of the vehicle, emphasizing that the authorities acted without definitive evidence that the meat was beef. Despite claims of recovering suspected cow meat, the veterinary report did not conclusively determine its origin.
Highlighting the state’s burden to prove the seized material was beef, the court emphasized the necessity of a confirmatory diagnosis from an authorized laboratory. The judge criticized the arbitrary confiscation of the vehicle, stressing the importance of following statutory requirements.
In a significant decision, the court awarded Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the petitioner, citing the prolonged deprivation of livelihood caused by the illegal state action. The state was directed to pay the damages promptly and release the confiscated vehicle within three days.
