KOCHI: Kerala High Court on Wednesday declined to stay the Central government’s order banning the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets. However, the HC directed the Centre to file an affidavit.
“Since it is alleged (by the petitioners) 90 per cent of the cattle slaughtered for food are sourced from animal markets and thousands of people are depending on it for their livelihood, these matters need to be heard out of turn on a priority basis,” said the court. The final hearing of the case has been posted to June 28.
The court issued the order on petitions filed by Kozhikode District Meat Workers Association and a meat trader in Kochi.
“There is force in the contention of the petitioners that the Rule was beyond the scope of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act which neither deals with the livestock nor with regulation of the activities in markets. Since preservation, protection and improvement of livestock falling under the state list, there was substance in the contention of petitioners that the Centre cannot make a subordinate legislation,” the court held.
Special Assembly session
The Kerala Assembly will hold a special session on Thursday to discuss Centre’s cattle trade ban