Bill allowing individuals to transport cattle tabled

Guwahati: Assam govt on Friday introduced the Assam Cattle Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the House to authorise any individual alongside any agency or registered farm to transport cattle for legitimate agricultural, animal husbandry purposes or associated trade.
Previously, solely agencies and farms registered under the state animal husbandry and veterinary department were granted such authorisations for cattle transport for bona fide agricultural or animal husbandry purposes or transportation of cattle for the said purposes. This amendment bill proposes that the competent authority may issue such permit to an individual (person) as well by amending Sub-section (4) of Section 7 in the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 amended up to 2022.
The bill was presented in the state assembly by parliamentary affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, on behalf of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Sarma also oversees the state home and political departments.
"Proposed amendment will permit any person along with any agency or farm registered under the animal husbandry and veterinary department, Assam for transport of cattle for bona fide agricultural or animal husbandry purposes or trade for the said purpose," stated the objectives and reasons of the bill introduced on Friday. This shall align the Act with the order dated Dec 3, 2024, of the Gauhati high court in case no. WP(C)/2495/2022 titled ‘Lucy Sawkmie and Anr Vs The State of Assam and 6 Ors' wherein the high court has permitted the petitioner to submit an application seeking a permit for transportation of cattle through Assam for bona fide agricultural and animal husbandry purposes or trade.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 was enacted by the assembly in 2021 to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle in the state.