The Bombay high court has held that the state government's order on criminalising possession of beef is "unconstitutional". According to the order passed on Friday consumption of beef and possession of beef slaughtered outside the state is no more a criminal act.

Pronouncing the judgement on a set of complaints challenging the beef ban in the state, the court however upheld the Maharashtra government's law which banned on slaughter of bulls and bullocks.

The Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act which came into effect in March 2015 had banned the slaughter of bulls, bullocks, and cows and the sale of meat a crime punishable with a jail term of up to five years and a fine of Rs 10,000.

It had also specified that possession of meat of a cow, bull or bullock, even if slaughtered outside the state, is an offence than can be punished with one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000.

Those challenging the ban claimed that it was in violation of the fundamental rights.

Maharashtra government justified the ban stating that there was no fundamental right to choice of food or any right to eat beef.

Out of the 29 states 24 have banned or have some sort or restrictions on cow slaughter.