Why in news?
The government withdrew its notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter in cattle markets.
What was the notification about?
- The Centre had amended the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in May 2017.
- It laid out conditions under which cattle could be sold in the markets.
- According to the notification cattle can be sold only after sellers formally stated that the animals had not been “brought to the market for sale for slaughter”.
- Buyers would also have had to verify whether they are agriculturalists.
- Buyers should declare that they would not sell the animals for 6 months from the date of purchase.
- The notification had defined cattle as a bovine animal “including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers and calves as well as camels.
Why was the notification rolled back?
- The government justified that the notification was a follow up to the SC’s directive to the government to form an inter-ministerial committee to recommend ways of preventing cattle smuggling.
- But the notification had led to a furore among animal traders and farmers as it impacted their business.
- Farmers said that they cannot directly access slaughterhouses to sell redundant cattle and this notification denies them the access to the market.
- The curbs were also seen as a double blow given the continuing attacks by cow vigilantes.
- The Madras High Court stayed the order.
- Subsequently the Supreme Court extended the stay to the whole country.
- Following this the government suggested that it was about to come up with amendments.
- But now it has withdrawn it.
Source: The Hindu
