SC to hear plea against new cattle sale rules on June 15

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed for an urgent hearing on June 15 on a public interest litigation (PIL), challenging the Environment and Forest Ministry’s May 23 notification banning sale of animals in cattle markets for slaughter.

Petitioner advocate Mohd Abdul Faheem urged the court to strike down The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (Regulation of Live Stock Markets) Rules as ultra-virus and unconstitutional as it violates the right to free trade, freedom of food and religion.

The PIL said the notification has created a chaotic situation across the country since the Centre has not identified the animal markets where the animals can be sold for non-slaughter purposes nor did it ensure the availability of the infrastructure in such markets as stipulated in the notified rules.

The vacation bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Deepak Gupta agreed for an early hearing of the PIL mentioned by Counsel Sanobar Ali Qureshi appearing for Faheem. Sanovar pointed out that the notification was contrary to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals under which it was issued since Section 28 of the Act clearly permits the sacrifice of animals for religious purposes. The rules put a ban on such sacrifices which is to frustrate the parent Act and violates Article 28 of the Constitution.

Sanovar noted that prohibition of the sale of animals for slaughter for religious purposes offends the freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 and violates the guidelines issued in the matter by the Supreme Court and various High Courts.