‘Centre’s law doesn’t ban cattle slaughter’
THE NEW RULE DID NOT STOP ONE FROM SELLING CATTLE OUTSIDE THE ANIMAL MARKET, SAID THE HC
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A division bench of the Kerala high court on Wednesday dismissed as withdrawn a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Centre's ban on sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
When the petition came up for hearing, the court observed that there was no ban on slaughtering of cattle. The new notification only banned the sale of cattle in animal markets. The new rule did not stop one from selling cattle outside the animal market. If people chose to read the rules carefully, there would not be any cause for tension.
However, the petitioner, a Congress leader, argued that as the preservation and protection of cattle came under the state list, only the state has the power to make any regulations on cattle. The Centre had encroached upon the power of the state government. He pointed out that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCAA) allowed slaughter of animals for human consumption.
However, the court observed that there was no public interest involved in the plea and there was no ban in the new regulation. In view of the observations of the bench, the counsel later withdrew the petition. The court will take up two more petitions questioning the new notification later on Wednesday.