New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on June 15 a plea challenging the government notification prohibiting the sale of animals at animal markets for cow slaughter on the grounds that it violated the right to free trade.
A vacation bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Deepak Gupta directed the listing of the matter on June 15 as counsel Sanobar Ali Qureshi, appearing for petitioner Mohammed Abdul Faheem Qureshi, on Wednesday mentioned the matter for an early hearing.
Challenging May 23 notification, counsel Qureshi told the bench that the official declaration was contrary to the provision of law that permitted the sale of animals for religious sacrifices.
The Modi government’s May 25 order bans sale of cattle, including cows, for slaughter and restricts cattle trade to farm owners, a decision that will hit poor farmers and squeeze supplies to the country’s Rs 1 lakh-crore meat industry.
Slaughtering of animals for food and sacrifice was part of the cultural identity of certain communities and was protected by law, Qureshi said.
Rivals have accused the government of pushing a beef ban through the back door in keeping with the BJP’s Hindutva agenda.
Cows are considered holy by many Hindus and have gained in importance since Prime Minister Narendra Modi stormed to power in 2014.
Cow slaughter is banned in states except in most parts of north-east India and Kerala.
Many BJP-ruled states have come out with stringent laws against cow slaughter.
But the latest notification is causing some concern within, as the BJP looks to expand base in the Northeast and the south, where beef is widely eaten.
Several states have said they wouldn’t implement the order, as the Centre can’t dictate food habits.
