The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will on June 15 hear a petition challenging the Centre’s notification banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter.
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, 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 announcement from the top court comes a day after Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian sounded caution over the cattle slaughter ban, saying such policies could adversely impact the economics of livestock farming in India.
"On dairy and livestock, two points are worth emphasizing. The governments have the right to choose their social policies. But in doing so, they must be fully aware of the economic costs of these policies," he said.
The cattle-trade ban has caused widespread anger, both in BJP and opposition-ruled states, with rivals accusing the Modi government of trying to dictate people’s food habits and pushing a beef ban through the backdoor.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had last month notified the new rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which bans sale of cattle for slaughter in open markets across the country.
(With inputs from agencies)