Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said that the stay on the Centre’s May 26 notification, banning sale of cattle in livestock markets for religious sacrifices and slaughter, should not be considered as a setback for the government. Said Harsh Vardhan to THE WEEK, “It is not a setback to us. We only asked the Supreme Court to give us some time to come up with changes in the notification. And it was granted to us by the court. Now, we are examining all representations objectively, as there were some apprehensions. The order by the Supreme Court is being deliberately misconstrued by a section of the media as a serious disappointment for us, which is wrong. We know well that certain aspects need tweaking and we will get back to the court soon.”
After the notification in May, the Union government received representations from different people which said that certain rules of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 2017, were sensitive and complicated. The Supreme Court, on July 11, told the Centre that the rules on the sale of cows, buffaloes and camels be kept in suspension till new amendments are notified. Earlier, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had stayed the new rules. The apex court said that the Madras High Court’s interim order, which expired on July 8, would remain in force across the country.
The case was heard by a bench consisting of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The Union government was represented by Additional Solicitor General P.S. Narasimha. Asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented public interest litigation petitioners, “Why would the Central government want a seller and buyer of cattle to give a certificate that the animal is not meant for slaughter?” Sibal said that the legal question was related to intrusion into the powers of the state government.
The Union government’s decision was slammed by several states. Kerala witnessed beef fests in various parts of the state to protest against the decision. Said P. Karunakaran, CPI(M) MP, Kasaragod, to THE WEEK, “The Supreme Court’s order is an important step. The Union government has no right to interfere in the eating habits of people. It is the fundamental right of people to eat what they want to eat. I hope the government would make all the necessary amendments at the earliest and correct its mistakes after consulting with the state governments.”
