Supreme Court suspends Centre’s rule banning sale of cattle for slaughter

Source:- indiatoday.intoday.in

The Supreme Court today clarified that the Madras High Court’s stay on government’s notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets is operational.

In other words, the Madras High Court’s stay on cattle slaughter ban is effective across the country.

The Centre has agreed to the position and said that it is not seeking a modification of the order of Madras High Court.

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.

To clear the confusion surrounding the conflicting orders, the Supreme Court today said that Madras High Court’s stay on Centre’s notification remains operational.

It’s important to note here that the Supreme Court has not put a stay by itself but in wake of conflicting orders by Madras and Kerala high courts, the position has been clarified.

IN THE COURTROOM

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar also took on record the statements made by the Centre that the government is re-looking into the notification and will bring in necessary changes.

The Centre was on the back foot in the court today. Represented by ASG P S Narasimha, Centre did not contest the ban and was also ready to concede that there are problems with the current notification. The government said that the changes will be brought in and re-notified.

Senior lawyer Kapil Sabil, representing Meat Exporters Association, told Supreme Court that there is fear and phobia among cattle traders over the notification.

Requesting the Supreme Court to clarify its position, Kapil Sabil said that it must be ensured that businesses are not hampered.

A May notification, titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change stated that no one can bring cattle to an animal market unless he or she has furnished a written declaration that the cattle will not be sold for the purpose of slaughter.

Supreme Court’s clarification means that the Centre’s notification stands stayed and now the cattle trade markets will work under the old rules without the need for any certificates.