The Supreme Court has ordered a nationwide stay on the Central government’s new cattle slaughter notification. The SC said that “livelihoods cannot be subjected to uncertainties”.
Image: Hindustan Times
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered a nationwide stay on the Central government’s new cattle slaughter notification. The SC said that “livelihoods cannot be subjected to uncertainties”. The SC further said that the stay directed by the Madras HC will apply to the entire country. The Madras HC had stayed the controversial ban on May 30.
The Central government responded by saying that it will change the rules and re-notify the changes.
On May 29, the A gazette notification, titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change states 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. Further, upon sale of cattle, the animal market committee will take an “undertaking” that the animals are for agricultural purposes and not for slaughter.
On June 15, the SC had issued notice to the Centre on the ban.. The Meghalaya Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution opposing the ban on June 12. West Bengal and Kerala too had vehemently opposed the ban.