India justices stay cow-slaughter ban

NEW DELHI — India’s top court on Tuesday stayed for three months a ban introduced by the Hindu nationalist government on the sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter.

The Supreme Court approved a lower-court ruling that said people have a basic right to choose their food.

The court is expected to give a final ruling after the federal government reconsiders the issue in view of widespread criticism of its decision announced in May.

The government informed Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on Tuesday that it was re-examining the ban and would make the necessary changes by the end of August, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.