The Animal Welfare Board of India recently called on the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to enact legislation banning the slaughter of cows in that state.
On August 30, 1976, the Governor of Tamil Nadu issued an administrative order banning the slaughter of cows in the state, but in the absence of any specific legislation the administrative order has gone unenforced.
Like other recent Indian efforts in this area, this seems driven less by concern over animal welfare and more over sectarian conflicts pitting majority Hindus and minority Muslims and Christians on the other side. As a report by ChennaiOnline News Service noted,
Carrying forward her steps like banning auction of cows offered to temples by the temple authorities and the legislation banning forcible conversions, the Chief Minister, J Jayalaithaa should [sic] to enact a legislation banning cow slaughter too, the board urged.
Both of those measures were aimed solidly at Christian and Muslim minorities in Tamil Nadu.
Source:
TN urged to pass law to ban cow slaughter. ChennaiOnline News Service, January 4, 2004.