Cattle trade ban: SC stays centre's new cattle slaughter notification

The apex court of country on 11 July suspended center’s order on trade of cattle ban issued on 23 May.

The chief justice of India, Jagdish Singh Khehar-led bench said the livelihood of people cannot be subjected to uncertainties.

The Supreme Court, while hearing a matter on a cow slaughter ban, said that Madras High Court's stay on the government's notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets is operational.

The Centre told the Supreme Court that owing to public objections, it is re-considering certain aspect" of its recent rules banning sale and purchase of cattle for slaughter from animal markets.

The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Mr Narasimha, told the apex court that the Centre was were studying the market trends in the regard and may come up with the modifications likely by end of August.

“Needless to say that the interim direction issued by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court shall continue and extend to the entire country,” the SC bench observed.

Earlier, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had stayed the Centre's notification on cattle slaughter ban while the Kerala High Court refused to order a stay on it.

On May 25, the Centre through an order imposed a ban on the sale of cattle, including cows, for slaughter and restricted cattle trade solely to farm owners.

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan had ordered that the ministry has notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 to ensure that the sale of cattle is not meant for slaughter purposes.

Regulating animal trade is a state business, but animal welfare is a central subject, thereby providing the window for the ministry to notify the rule.

In lieu of this, there was widespread opposition of the order, with many states openly denying accepting the notification.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan last month said he would call for a meeting of all the chief ministers, asserting that the Union Government does not have the right to issue such an order on cattle slaughter ban.

On June 1, the students of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT- Madras) staged protest against the same.

-With ANI inputs.