The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has approached the Madras High Court seeking to declare the recently notified Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, which imposed restrictions on sale of cattle for slaughter, as illegal, unconstitutional, and ultra vires the Constitution.
Representing the party, its advocates wing secretary D. Parventhan said, “The ruling Central government, in the pretext of making rules to prevent the trans-boundary smuggling of cattle, has imposed its Hindutva ideology by way of banning the sales/purchase of cattle for slaughter/human consumption in market places.”
Pointing to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the Gauri Maulekhi versus Union of India and others case, based on which the Central government claims to have brought in the Rules, the petitioner said, “The Supreme Court order dated July 13, 2015, directed the Central government to frame guidelines to prevent animals from being smuggled out of India for the Gadhimai festival held in Nepal where large-scale animal sacrifices take place. On July 12, 2016, the apex court, by way of a final order, directed the Union government to frame rules under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.”
As per the Supreme Court’s direction, the basic purpose of the rule must ensure that the cattle shall not be smuggled trans-boundary without valid export permission or licence. But instead of making a valid rule to prevent the international sales/smuggling the Union government has drafted and notified the latest rules banning sale of cattle in markets for slaughter, the petitioner added.
