Article 48 of the Constitution of India is one of the Directive Principles which directs the state to make efforts for banning animal slaughtering of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. It further states to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines.[1][2]
Article 48 is included as a “Directive Principle of State Policy”, meant to guide the Indian states in policy formation and its implementation, but could not be enforced in any court.[3]
The purpose of the Article 48 of the constitution is aimed at protecting Bos Indicus.[8] In view of the persistent demands requested from the related religions, for action to be taken to prevent cattle slaughtering, the government formulated Article 48 for well-being of cattle and to take measures to secure the cattle wealth of India.[9][10]
The article 48 was challenged in the Supreme Court of India by butchers, tanners, gut merchants, curers and cattle dealers. The petitions were filed in accordance with fundamentals rights as mandated in (Article 19(1)(g)) and religion (Article 25) which were violated by enforcing the Article 48.[11][12][13]