SC orders window on cattle rules

R. Balaji, TT, New Delhi, July 11: The Supreme Court today halted the Centre's notification banning cattle and buffalo sale for slaughter at animal markets, extending "throughout the country" the interim stay imposed by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on May 30.

It added that whenever the Centre came out with an amended notification, sufficient time should be provided so that any aggrieved party could challenge it in court before its implementation.

The bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud passed the order after the Centre said it was "reconsidering" the May 23 notification in the light of objections from various stakeholders.

"Interim directions issued by Madurai Bench of Madras High Court shall extend throughout the country," the bench said."We are of the view that as and when a fresh notification is issued, sufficient time shall be granted by government... for the aggrieved parties to assail the same before this court," the bench said. Petitioners All India Jamiatul Quresh Action Committee and Sabu Steephen, a social activist from Kerala, had argued the notification flouted cattle traders' and meat sellers' fundamental right to livelihood and people's right to choice of food.

The Centre pleaded that it would abide by Madras High Court's interim stay, so any further direction was unnecessary.Reports from the ground suggest the ban is being implemented in many states outside Tamil Nadu, although some states like Bengal and Kerala have resisted it.

Asked by the bench why the notification was not being kept in "abeyance", additional solicitor-general P.S. Narsimha said: "We are reconsidering the whole issue.... It is not being implemented now. It will be re-notified by the end of August: we will put in an entirely new regime."

The Centre said it would consult the states before issuing the amended notification, and denied Jamiatul counsel Kapil Sibal's contention that the notification encroached on the states' powers