The Prime Minister's Office has sought the law ministry's opinion on whether the Centre could circulate the laws on cow slaughter as enacted by some states, including Gujarat, as model bill among other states for their consideration for similar legislations there.   

In a letter to the legal arm of the government, the PMO has referred to a similar provision in the Constitution that provides prohibition of slaughter of cows and milch animals.   

Article 48 of the Constitution states that "the State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle."   

The letter, sent recently, asked the law ministry to"examine and advice" whether the Acts enacted by few states can be circulated as model bill to other states so that they can "exercise their choice of consideration to introduce similar enactments".