The Supreme Court is all set to hear arguments against the ban of cattle sale for slaughter, today. This plea challenges the central government’s notification that prohibits the sale and purchase of cattle at the animal market for slaughter. It also states that this violates the right to free trade.
On June 7, Abdul Faheem Qureshi who put in a petition moved to the apex court. This move also challenges the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rule. This supports the seizure, recovery of the cost of transportation, treatment and maintenance of the seized animals.
Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Deepak Gupta, who are part of the summer vacation bench on June 7 said that this matter will be heard on June 15. This was as Sanobar Ali Quereshi, a petitioner from Hyderabad moved that this matter that needs an early hearing.
Faheem Qureshi is a lawyer and said that the ban has contended the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017, that prevent sale of cattle for slaughter are illegal, unconstitutional and arbitrary.
He challenged these laws saying that they violated his constitutional rights to practice any profession, protection of life and personal liberty, freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion and protection of interests of minorities.
The notifications by the Central Government came on May 23. He said that the purchaser “shall not sacrifice the animal for any religious purpose.” This was contrary to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Section 28 of this act says it is not an offense to “kill any animal in a manner required by the religion of any community.”
Qureshi also presented an objection to the statement in the notification that requires the owner to submit a bond. The bond says that the owner has to pay for the transportation, maintenance and treatment of the cattle.
