New Delhi: India’s Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to the central government, based on pleas challenging the Centre’s order banning the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter.

A vacation Bench, comprising Justices S.K. Kaul and R.K. Agrawal, asked the Central government to file its response within two weeks on the petition.

The Court, however, declined to stay new cattle slaughter rules issued by the Environment Ministry, saying it was not in favour of passing any interim order. The next date of hearing in the case is July 11.

The petitions challenged the May 25 notification of the Environment Ministry, which imposed the prohibition on the sale of cattle — cows, bulls, buffaloes, camels, heifers — for the purpose of slaughter from animal markets.

Hyderabad-based All India Jamiatul Quresh Action Committee (AIJQAC) had filed a petition in the apex court last month, seeking to quash the new rules.

“The new rules violate individual’s right to choice of food and thus personal liberty. The Centre’s rules sought to usurp the power of states in making regulations on livestock and are in contradiction to the parent law, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. A complete ban of sale or purchase or resale of animals would cast a huge economic burden on the farmers and cattle traders,” the petition claimed.

The petition said the Centre’s move was unconstitutional.

“The new rules are arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional. The rule was against freedom of religious practice to sacrifice animals and imposing a ban on slaughter of animals for food violates the right to food, privacy and personal liberty guaranteed to a citizen under the Constitution,” it added.

AIJQAC said the rules will embolden cow vigilantes to harass farmers and cattle traders.

“The cattle also needs to be fed as it was an offence under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 to starve an animal or failure to maintain it and the notification would also give way for cow vigilantes to harass farmers and cattle traders under the blessing of impugned regulations,” it said.

It also claimed that states like Kerala, West Bengal, Tripura and Karnataka have already stated that they would not implement the Centre’s ban as it would impact the livelihood of those involved in this business.

Reacting to the development, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said that all issues related to the cattle slaughter notification would be addressed “seriously and honestly.”

“The Supreme Court has given us time till July 11, but we will file our response before it. We have already said that whosoever has any concern related to this issue, we will seriously and honestly address those. We will reach out to any person in India who have a heartburn on this issue,” he said.

The Central government told SC on Thursday that its intention was to create a regulatory regime all over the country.

The government has already indicated that it is ready to amend the language of the recent controversial cattle sale notification to clear doubts regarding its implementation.

“The issue has been blown out of proportion, it has been misunderstood. The Environment Ministry is actively reviewing the rules and considering amendments. The language will be amended to clear doubts, misinterpretations and misconceptions on an urgent basis. We are examining various petitions from the leather industry to states and non governmental organisations,” Harsh Vardhan told media.

He said the aim of the rules was to prevent cruelty to animals.

“It has nothing to do with the slaughter business, it has nothing to do with changing your food habits. We don’t have an iota of intention to either influence anybody’s food habits nor do we want to affect the slaughter business. We are used to listening to the term fascist for years. We are the only party that works with dedication and commitment to serve this country,” the Minister stated.

His stand came days after Madras High Court suspended the rule for four weeks in Tamil Nadu. The notification has triggered protests in several states, including Kerala and Meghalaya.

On Monday, Meghalaya Assembly passed a resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification. The Assembly called the measure an “infringement” of the rights of states.