Indian state imposes 10% ‘cow protection surcharge’

The move comes following a law in Gujarat to award life-term for cow slaughter

As the incumbent Modi government has been campaigning for a complete ban on cow slaughtering in India, its northern state has imposed 10% stamp duty for ‘cow protection’, The Hindu reported on Thursday.

Now, those who are making rent agreements, mortgage papers and lease agreements in Rajasthan will now have to pay the surcharge on stamp duty.

The finance department imposed the surcharge on all non-judicial instruments and order for which was released on March 31 last.



“In exercise of the powers conferred of the Rajasthan Stamp Act, 1998 and in supersession of this department’s notification, state government hereby orders surcharge at the rate of 10 per cent on stamp duty payable on all instruments for the purposes of conservation and propagation of cow and its progeny,” states the order.

In her budget speech, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had proposed the surcharge for development of basic infrastructure facilities and protection and propagation of cows.

However, judicial stamps, revenue ticket and insurance ticket have been excluded from the order.

In Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on March 31 enacted a harsher law providing for life-term for those found involved in cow-slaughtering.