Slaughter ban: Kerala HC rejects interim stay on Centre's order

Refusing to entertain demand by the petitioners, the court scheduled the next hearing in the case for July 26 The petition, filed by beef traders, had pointed out that the law on cattle trade and slaughter was a state subject The HC observed there is no ban on cattle slaughter or consuming meat but the order only bans sale of cattle

The Kerala High Court has refused to grant an interim stay on the ban imposed by the Centre on the sale of cattle for slaughter.

Refusing to entertain demand by the petitioners, the HC scheduled the next hearing in the case for July 26. The petition, filed by Congress legislator Hibi Eden and a group of beef traders from Kozhikode, had pointed out that the law on cattle trade and slaughter was a state subject.

Moreover, the new order from the central government infringed on the rights of the people on what they should eat, the petitioners stressed, adding that they hoped the new law be put on hold immediately. The Kerala government counsel also agreed with the points raised by the petitioners.

However, the High Court observed that there is no ban on cattle slaughter or consuming meat but the order only bans large scale sale of cattle through big animal markets. The court asked whether the notification has violated the fundamental rights of the citizen or the notification contains any clause that constrains the labour laws, following which the petitioners withdrew their letter.