Madras HC suspends Centre's ban on cattle trade for slaughter
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court stayed the operation of the Centre's order by four weeks.
The court has directed the Centre to file its reply in four weeks.
The Centre recently notified a Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 that said that the member secretary of an animal market committee will have to ensure that no one brings a young animal to the slaughterhouse.
"The prime focus of the regulation is to protect the animals from cruelty and not to regulate the existing trade in cattle for slaughter houses. It is envisaged that welfare of cattle dealt in the market will be ensured and that only healthy animals are traded for agriculture purposes for the benefits of the farmers. The livestock markets are intended to become hubs for trade for animal for agriculture through this process and animal for slaughter will have to be bought from the farmers at the farms. The notified rules will remove the scope of illegal sale and smuggling of the cattle which is a major concern. The specific provisions apply only to animals which are bought and sold in the notified live stock markets and animals that are seized as case properties. These rules do not cover other areas," the Central government said in a statement.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she will not accept the Central government's ban on selling cattle in the markets for slaughter.
"This law is unconstitutional, undemocratic and against the federal structure. They have introduced the law in the month of Ramadan without taking the views of the state governments," Mamata Banerjee said during a press conference at state's main administrative building at Nabanna in Kolkata.
The Bengal CM also said that her government would challenge the Centre's decision legally.
"There is a constitutional bench in the Supreme Court. We are discussing the matter with our Advocate General (AG) and soon we will move to court against it," Banerjee said.
"People from all religions are living happily here in Bengal. Centre can never decide what to eat and what not," she added.
Talking about the killings by gau rakshaks, Mamata Banerjee told the media, "In the name of saving cows, they are killing farmers and dairy-men and most of such incidents are being reported from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh."
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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