State should have better things to do: Supreme Court tells Assam on beef transport case
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Assam government while hearing a case against a man accused of transporting beef and it "should have better things to do" than running after such persons.
A bench of Justices A S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan stayed the criminal proceedings against the accused and posted the matter on April 16.
"State should have better things to do than running after these people," the bench said after the state informed about the meat sample being sent to a lab for testing.
The counsel said after the transportation was intercepted, the driver was unable to answer questions over the nature of the actual product.
"The meat was then sent to a forensic lab," said the counsel.
The court said that a person who did not have an expert knowledge couldn't differentiate between packaged raw packed of various animals by just seeing it.
"How will a person know only if there is beef or some other meat? If person is in possession how will he recognise it is meat of which animal? Naked eyes cannot differentiate between them," said the court.
The accused's counsel submitted that his client was a warehouse owner and had only transported the packaged raw meat.
Referring to Section 8 of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, the court said the provision could be invoked only if there was knowledge to the accused that the meat being sold was beef.
The state's counsel argued that the accused was involved in packaging and selling the meat.
The bench said the matter required a hearing and posted it in April.
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Kohli's U-19 teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill dies at 36
New Delhi (PTI): Former India U-19 and Punjab medium pacer Amanpreet Singh Gill died at the age of 36 in Chandigarh on Wednesday, leaving the cricket fraternity in mourning.
The cause of death is not yet known.
Gill, who was Virat Kohli's U-19 teammate, featured in six first-class matches for Punjab, picking up 11 wickets.
He was also part of the Punjab franchise (Kings XI Punjab) in the inaugural Indian Premier League season, and later served as a member of Punjab's senior selection committee.
"Punjab Cricket Association deeply mourns the sad demise of Amanpreet Singh Gill, former Punjab cricketer and Member, Senior Selection Committee Punjab,” the Punjab Cricket Association announced on X.
"Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the family in this difficult time."
Two-time World Cup-winning India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute to Gill.
"Deeply saddened to hear about Amanpreet Singh Gill’s passing. Shared the dressing room in our early days, he was a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace Om Shanti,” Singh posted on X.
Gill played five Youth ODIs and one Youth Test for India in 2007.
In the longer format, he claimed the wicket of former Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera.
However, he did not make the Virat Kohli-led India U-19 side that went on to win the 2008 World Cup.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Amanpreet Singh Shergill, who proudly represented Punjab and was a part of the Punjab Kings family. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity,” Punjab Kings posted on their official Instagram account.
