Centre to Withdraw Controversial Notification on Cattle Sale, Says Report

New Delhi: The Modi government is set to withdraw its controversial notification on ban on sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets, a report in The Indian Express quoted a senior official from the Ministry of Environment and Forests as saying.

“We sent a file to the Ministry of Law earlier this week, stating that we are withdrawing the notification due to several issues and will be revising it,” the official said.

The move was reportedly prompted by the response of states to the May 23 notification.

The Centre had, on May 23, issued a notification, banning the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for the purpose of slaughter, leading to protests from opposition parties and meat traders.

The notification defined cattle as a bovine animal, including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffaloes, steers, heifers and calves and camels. The new rules also prohibits establishment of an animal market in a place which is situated within 25-km from any state border and within 50-km from any international border.

In July, the ban was stayed for a period of three months by the Supreme Court.