SC Seeks Centre’s Response On Petitions Banning Cattle Trade For Slaughter:- The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on petitions, challenging its controversial notification of banning the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter.

A notification was issued to the Centre by vacation bench comprising Justices RK Agrawal and SK Kaul. The bench asked it to file a response within two weeks on two separate pleas challenging the notification.

Moreover, the apex court fixed the matter for hearing on July 11. The intention behind bringing the notification was to have a regulatory regime on cattle trade across the country, said the Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha, appearing for the Centre to the bench.

Recently, the Madras High Court even granted a interim stay on the notification, said Narasimha to the apex court. Challenging the notification, one of the petitioners, who had approached the apex court, has claimed in his plea that the provisions in the notification were unconstitutional as they profaned the fundamental rights including freedom of conscience and religion and right to livelihood.

On May 26, the Centre had banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter through an Environment Ministry notification - ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017’ under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

SUPRAJA