NEW DELHI: The Centre has received nine representations from various public figures including chief ministers of Kerala, Puducherry and Karnataka, on a ban on the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"Nine (9) representations have been received from the public representatives against the newly enforced Cattle Trade Rules," Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan in a written reply.
He said that representations were received from Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Meghayala Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.
He said representations were also received from Lok Sabha MP N K Premachandran, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, MP Vincent H Pala, Kerala Governor Justice (retd) P Sathasivam and MP Lok Sabha C K Sangma.
The Minister said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 was notified on May 23 this year.
The notification was stayed by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The Supreme Court has also observed that the stay granted by the Madurai Bench to the operation of rules shall apply to whole country.
"Thus, the operation of the notification dated May 23, 2017 has been stayed by the Supreme Court and the matter is sub-judice," Vardhan said.
The new rules ban the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter.
It also prohibits practices that are cruel to animals including painting of horns and putting ornaments or decorative materials on them.
The government has been maintaining that the rules are very "specific" and aim to regulate animal markets and sale of cattle.