The KARNATAKA TRADITIONAL MIGRATORY SHEPHERDS (WELFARE MEASURES AND PROTECTION AGAINST ATROCITIES) ACT, 2025.

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 62 OF 2025 
 
THE KARNATAKA TRADITIONAL MIGRATORY SHEPHERDS (WELFARE 
MEASURES AND PROTECTION AGAINST ATROCITIES) ACT, 2025 
 
Arrangement of Sections 
 
Sections: 
 
1. Short title and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Registration of traditional migratory shepherd 
4. Entitlement to benefits 
5. Identity cards 
6. Framing of Schemes 
7.  Levy of Market Fees 
8. Traditional Migratory Shepherds Welfare Fund and Board  
9. Offences against traditional migratory shepherds 
10. Offences against property 
11. Offences by public servants 
12. Offences to be cognisable and non-bailable 
13. Order to pay compensation 
14. Power to make rules 
15. Power to remove difficulties 
16. Protection of action taken in good faith 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS 
Act 62 of 2025:- It is considered necessary to give effect to the proposal 
made in the Budget Speech of 2024 -25 to enact a legislation to provide for 
registration and identification of traditional migratory shepherds and to 
establish a Fund to be administered by a Welfare  Board to implement schemes 
for the benefit of traditional migratory shepherds. Further, it is considered 
expedient to levy a market fee to finance the welfare fund.  
 Hence, the Bill. 
[L.A. Bill No. 62 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 66 SHASANA 2025]  
[Entries 20 and 23  of List III  of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of 
India]  
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra -ordinary No.5 80 in part -IVA 
dated:12.09.2025] 
  
KARNATAKA ACT NO. 62 OF 2025 
 
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 12th  day of 
September, 2025) 
 
THE KARNATAKA TRADITIONAL MIGRATORY SHEPHERDS (WELFARE 
MEASURES AND PROTECTION AGAINST ATROCITIES) ACT, 2025 
 
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 11th  day of September, 2025) 
An Act to provide welfare measures for traditional migratory shepherds 
and prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against traditional 
migratory shepherds in the State of Karnataka. 
Whereas it is expedient to provide welf are measures for traditional 
migratory shepherds, and to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities 
against traditional migratory shepherds in the State and for the matters 
connected therewith or incidental thereto.  
Be it enacted by the Karnataka St ate Legislature in the Seventy sixth 
year of the Republic of India, as follows:- 
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the 
Karnataka Traditional Migratory Shepherds (Welfare Measures and Protection 
Against Atrocities) Act, 2025. 
 (2) It shall come into force as the State Government may, by notification, 
appoint. 
2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 
(a) “Beneficiary” means a traditional migratory shepherd registered under 
section 4 of this Act; 
(b) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Department of Animal 
Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Karnataka; 
(c) “Department” means Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary 
Services, Government of Karnataka; 
(d) “Development Corporation” shall mean the Karn ataka Sheep and Wool 
Development Corporation Ltd. registered under the Companies Act, 
2013 (Central Act 18 of 2013) by the Department of Animal Husbandry 
and Veterinary Services, Government of Karnataka; 
(e) “Market” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under clause (18) 
of section 2 of the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing 
(Regulation and Development) Act, 1966 (Karnataka Act 27 of 1966); 
(f) “Marketing” shall have the same meaning assigned to it under clause 
(18A) of section 2 of the Karnataka Agricu ltural Produce Marketing 
(Regulation and Development) Act, 1966 (Karnataka Act 27 of 1966); 
(g) “Market Fees” means a fee levied under section 7 of this Act; 
(h) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 
(i) “Traditional Migratory Shepherd” shall mea n any person engaged 
primarily in traditional, migratory or seasonal rearing of sheep, goats 
or such livestock in search of fodder, water, and sustenance, along 
traditional routes; and 
(j) "Welfare Board" means the traditional migratory shepherd Welfare 
Board constituted under section 8 to administer the fund established 
under this Act; 
3. 3. Registration of traditional migratory shepherd. - (1) Every 
traditional migratory shepherd shall be eligible for registration as a beneficiary 
under this Act. 
(2) An applicati on for registration shall be made in such form, as may 
be prescribed to the officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf.  
           (3) Every application made under sub -section (2), shall be accompanied 
by such documents as may be prescribed. 
(4) If the officer authorised by the State Government under sub -section 
(2) is satisfied that the applicant is eligible under the provisions of this Act and 
the rules made thereunder, he shall register the name of the such traditional 
migratory shepherd as a beneficiary under this Act: 
Provided that, no application for registration shall be rejected by the 
authorised officer without giving an opportunity of being heard to the 
applicant.  
 
(5) Any person aggrieved by the decision under sub -section (4) may,  
within thirty days from the date of such decision, prefer an appeal to the 
Commissioner of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services 
or any other officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf and the 
decision of the Commission er or such authorised officer on such appeal shall 
be final: 
Provided that, the Commissioner or any other officer authorised by the 
State Government in this behalf may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the 
said period of thirty days if he is satisfie d that the applicant was prevented by 
sufficient cause from filing an appeal in time.  
(6) The Commissioner of the Department of Animal Husbandry and 
Veterinary Services shall authorise the officer to maintain such registers as 
may be prescribed. 
4. Entitlement to benefits.- Subject to the provisions of this Act, every 
traditional migratory shepherd registered as a beneficiary under this Act shall 
be entitled to the benefits provided under this Act. 
5. Identity cards. - (1)The Government shall notify t he competent 
authority responsible for providing an identity card to every beneficiary, with 
their photograph duly affixed thereon and with enough space for entering the 
details of their dependents and livestock in such manner as may be prescribed.  
 (2) A  beneficiary who has been issued an identity card under this Act 
shall produce the same whenever required by any officer of the Government.  
 (3) The identity card issued to any beneficiary under this Act shall be 
valid for such period of time as may be prescribed. 
(4) The paper and electronic records of traditional migratory shepherds 
shall be maintained by the authorised officer under sub-section (6) of section 3. 
6. Framing of Schemes. - (1) The State Government shall frame and 
notify, from time to time, suit able welfare schemes for traditional migratory 
shepherds on matters relating to,- 
(i) affordable housing and grant of land for housing purposes; 
(ii) life insurance, health insurance, animal insurance and disability 
cover;  
(iii) health benefits;  
(iv) educational benefits;  
(v) skill upgradation; 
(vi) food security; 
(vii) livestock vaccination and treatment; 
(viii) marketing support to traditional migratory shepherds for their 
products;  
(ix) monetary compensation in the case of loss of livestock; and  
(x) any other benefits as notified by the State Government from time -
to-time.  
(2)  Any scheme notified by the State Government under this section may 
be,- 
(a) wholly funded by the State Government; or  
(b) partly funded by the State Government; or 
(c) partly funded through contributions collected from the beneficiaries of 
the scheme as may be specified in the scheme by the State 
Government; or  
(d) funded from any source including corporate social responsibility fund 
or any other such source as may be specified in the scheme.  
(3) The State Government may seek financial assistance from the Central 
Government for the schemes framed by it.  
7.  Levy of Market Fees.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this 
Act or any other law for time being in force, every person who buys sheep or 
goat from an authorised market shall pay to the market committee a market  
fee levied under the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and  
 
Development) Act, 1966 (Karnataka Act 27 of 1966) on the total value of the 
transaction price. 
(2) Where any person fails to pay the market fee payable under this 
section, the market committee shall have the power to impose a penalty  under 
the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) 
Act,1966 (Karnataka Act 27 of 1966) and rules made thereunder. 
(3) The collected market fee under sub-section (1), shall be credited to the 
Traditional Migratory Shepherd Welfare Fund established under sub-section (1) 
of section 8 in such manner, as may be prescribed. 
8. Traditional Migratory Shepherds Welfare Fund and Board. - (1) The 
State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a 
fund to be called t he Traditional Migratory Shepherds Welfare Fund that shall 
be utilised for such purposes as may be prescribed. 
(2) The State Government may constitute and notify a Board, to be called 
the Karnataka Traditional Migratory Shepherds Welfare Board, to administ er 
the fund specified in sub-section (1). 
(3)  The Welfare Board shall consist of a Chairperson and such other 
officers from the Development Corporation as may be prescribed, with effect 
from such date as the State Government may by notification appoint in  this 
behalf. 
(4) The Welfare Board shall be a body corporate having perpetual 
succession and a common seal and subject to such restrictions as are imposed 
by or under this Act or any other rules made under this Act, shall be vested 
with the capacity of su ing or being sued in its corporate name, of acquiring, 
holding and disposing of, moveable or immoveable property, of entering into 
contracts, and of doing all things necessary, proper or expedient for the 
purpose for which it is constituted. 
(5) All expenditure incurred by the Welfare Board shall be defrayed out of 
the said fund. 
(6) The Fund may also be utilized to implement schemes notified by the 
State Government under section 6 and for any other purpose as may be 
prescribed. 
9. Offences against traditional migratory shepherds.- Whoever,- 
(i) denies access of a traditional migratory shepherd to any public 
property, Government land or forest land (excluding reserve forest) 
without any lawful basis, such person shall be punishable with 
imprisonment  for a term of  one year and with fine  of rupees fifty 
thousand. 
(ii) denies any customary right of passage to public resort or customary 
right of grazing or obstructs the passage of a traditional migratory 
shepherd to prevent them from using or having acc ess to a place of 
public resort to which other members of public have a right to use or 
access, such person shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term 
of two years and with fine of rupees one lakh.  
(iii) intentionally insults or verbally abuses any traditional migratory 
shepherd, such person shall be punishable with imprisonment for a 
term of six months but which may extend to five years and with fine of 
rupees one lakh. 
(iv) causes death of a traditional migratory shepherd by doing an act with 
the intention of causing death, or with the intention of causing such 
bodily injury as is likely to cause death, or with the knowledge that it 
is likely by such act to cause death, such person shall be punishable 
under relevant criminal laws for time being in force. 
(v) behaves in a manner that constitutes sexual harassment, under the 
section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 45 of 
2023) such person shall be punishable in accordance with the 
provisions of relevant Criminal Laws, for the time being in force. 
(vi) prevents a traditional migratory shepherd from availing judicial 
recourse with regard to offences against traditional migratory  
shepherds and offences against property or any other offence under any 
law, for time being in force, such p erson shall be punishable with 
imprisonment for a term of two years and fine of rupees fifty thousand. 
(vii) violates the due process of law and claims damages from a 
traditional migratory shepherd without approaching the appropriate 
authority shall be pun ishable with imprisonment for a term of three 
years and fine of rupees one lakh. 
 10. Offences against property. - (1) Whoever, not being a traditional 
migratory shepherd,- 
(i) Causes damage to property, movable or otherwise, belonging to a 
traditional migratory shepherd; or 
(ii) Moves property belonging to a traditional migratory shepherd without 
their consent; or 
(iii) Dispossesses a traditional migratory shepherd of their property, is 
said to have committed an offence against the property of a 
traditional migratory shepherd, 
- shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of two years and with 
fine may be imposed equivalent to the value of damaged property.  
(2) Whoever, not being a traditional migratory shepherd,- 
(i) intending to take dishonestly any livestock out of the possession of 
any traditional migratory shepherd without that person's consent, 
moves that livestock in order to carry out such taking, carries it 
away or misappropriates it; or 
(ii) intending to deny any livestock of a traditional mig ratory 
shepherd’s access to any public property, government land or forest 
land (excluding reserve forest), causes any damage to the livestock 
of the traditional migratory shepherd, is said to have committed an 
offence against the property of a traditional migratory shepherd, 
-shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of two years  and with 
fine of rupees fifty thousand. 
11. Offences by public servants. - Whoever, being a public servant, 
wilfully neglects his duties required to be performed by him unde r any law in 
force with the intent of causing injury or monetary loss to a traditional 
migratory shepherd, shall be punished under relevant civil services rules: 
Provided that, any police officer who wilfully refuses to act on complaints 
from traditional migratory shepherds or undertake investigation in accordance 
with the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 46 of 2023) is 
said to have committed an offence for the purposes of this section. 
12. Offences to be cognisable and non -bailable.- (1) Notwithstanding 
anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Central 
Act 46 of 2023) no person accused of an offence under this Act shall be 
released on bail or on their own bond unless,- 
(i) the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the 
application for such release; and  
(ii) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the application, the court is 
satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are 
not guilty of such offence and that they are not likely to commit any 
offence while on bail:  
Provided that, a person, who is under the age of eighteen years, or is a 
woman or is sick or infirm, may be released on bail, if the Court so directs. 
Provided further that this section is not applicable to trad itionally  
migratory shepherd persons. 
 
13. Order to pay compensation. - When a Court imposes a sentence, 
the Court shall, when passing judgment, order the whole or any part of the fine 
recovered to be applied to compensate the traditional migratory shepherds.  
14. Power to make rules. - (1) The State Government may, by 
notification in the Official Gazette with previous publication, make rules for 
carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing  
power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:- 
(i) applications for registrations of traditional migratory shepherds under 
sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Act.  
(ii) documents to accompany the application under sub -section (3) of 
section 3 of the Act. 
(iii) registers to be maintained by the authorised person under sub -section 
(6) of section 3 of the Act. 
(iv) issuance of identity cards under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Act.  
(v) validity of the identity cards un der sub-section (3) of section 5 of the 
Act.  
(vi) collection of the market fee under sub -section (3) of section 7 of the 
Act. 
(vii) establishment of the Traditional Migratory Shepherd Welfare Fund 
under sub-section (1) of section 8 of the Act. 
(viii) constitution and notification of the Karnataka Traditional Migratory 
Shepherds Welfare Board under sub -section (2)and (3)of section 8 of 
the Act. 
(ix) utilisation and purposes of the Traditional Migratory Shepherds 
Welfare Fund under  sub-section (6) of section 8 of the Act. 
 (3) Every rule or notification made under this Act shall be laid as soon as 
may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature while it is in 
session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session 
or in two or more successive sessions and if before the expiry of the session 
immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both 
Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or notification or both 
Houses agree that the ru le or notification should not be made, the rule or 
notification shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment is 
notified have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case 
may be; so, however, that any such modification o r annulment shall be 
without, prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or 
notification. 
 
15. Power to remove difficulties. - (1) If any difficulty arises in giving 
effect to the provisions of this Act, the State Government may, by order, 
published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions, not inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act, as may be necessary or expedient for removing the 
difficulty. 
 (2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after 
it is so made, be laid before the House of State Legislature. 
16. Protection of action taken in good faith. - No suit, prosecution or 
other legal proceeding shall lie against the State Government or any officer, or 
other employees of the State Government for anything which is in good faith 
done or intended to be done under this Act or rules made thereunder. 
The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಾಂಪ್ ರ ದಾಯಿಕ ಅಲೆಮಾರಿ ಕುರಿಗಾಹಿಗಳ 
(ಕ್ ಷ ೇಮಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ  ಕ ರ ಮಗಳು ಮತ್ತ ು  ದೌರ್ಾನ್ಯ ಗಳ ವಿರುದ್ಿ  ರಕ್ಷಣೆ) ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ, 2025 (2025 ರ 
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯಯ : 62)  be published in the official Gazette under 
clause (3) of Article 348 of the constitution of India. 
 
THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT 
GOVERNOR OF KARANATAKA 
 
By Order and in the name of 
the Governor of Karnataka, 
 
 
                                                  G. SRIDHAR 
Secretary to Government 
Department of Parliamentary 
Affairs and Legislation 
 

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