The Karnataka government has decided to drop the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle (Amendment) Bill, 2025, from the current winter legislature session in Belagavi. The Bill aimed to allow the release of vehicles seized for illegal cattle transport upon submission of an “indemnity bond” instead of a “bank guarantee” equal to the vehicle's value, as the current Act requires. Although the Bill was initially listed in the Legislative Assembly’s agenda and had Cabinet approval on December 12, it will not be tabled now. Sources say the government chose to hold back the Bill to avoid any controversy at this sensitive time. Some ruling party MLAs expressed concerns that, despite its intent to help poor vehicle owners working on hire, the Bill might provide the Opposition an opportunity to attack the government on communal grounds. Following the Cabinet clearance, Hindutva groups protested against the Bill in parts of Karnataka. This Bill proposed a minor amendment following a Karnataka High Court order from October 27, 2022, which instructed that vehicles seized during illegal cattle transportation should be released on producing an “indemnity bond.” The existing law, notified in February 2021, bans slaughter of all cattle including cows, calves, bulls, and buffaloes under 13 years old. Violation can lead to imprisonment of three to seven years and fines starting from ₹50,000 per cattle, rising to ₹10 lakh for repeat offences. Despite the Cabinet's earlier approval, officials now feel postponing the Bill is better to avoid political and social unrest during this session.