The President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, which bans the slaughter of bulls and bullocks, which was previously allowed based on a fit-for-slaughter certificate.

The slaughter of cows is already prohibited in the state under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976. The new bill came nearly 19 years after the Maharashtra Assembly passed it during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule in 1995.

Following the development, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweeted, "Thanks a lot Hon President Sir for the assent on Maharashtra Animal Preservation Bill. Our dream of ban on cow slaughter becomes a reality now".

The new Act allows the slaughter of water buffaloes, which is seen as an inferior quality meat and makes up only 25 per cent of the total beef market in Maharashtra, The Indian Express reported.

Right-wing organisations had been asking for shutting down of the beef trade in the state. As per the new Act, anyone found to be selling beef or in possession of it can be jailed for five years and fined Rs 10,000.