Too early to make changes in cattle sale rules: Officials

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 29

Notwithstanding strong objections by non-BJP ruled states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ new stringent rules on the sale of cows and buffaloes in animal markets across India, officials say any decision (whether or not to roll-back certain objectionable provisions) would be taken after all representations have been duly studied and reviewed.

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While Kerala, which is openly defying the rules, is also threatening to go to the court over what Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan terms “intrusion” in the rights of states, MoEF officials say it is “too early” to make any changes in the “objectionable parts” in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017, without taking into consideration all viewpoints.

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“We are still getting reactions and representations… they are all being reviewed. It is too early to make any changes in the notification which was issued just last week. Some representations have been received regarding certain provisions which are being examined,” they say.

What the officials are also wondering is why these objections were not raised when the Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, was first uploaded on January 16.\

Inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected by it, the draft rules had incorporated all suggestions made after the Supreme Court order dated July 13, 2015, they said.

Also, according to top BJP leaders, who deny any "saffron politics” behind the notification, the new rules are a result of the apex court instructions to the government to frame guidelines to prevent animals from the being smuggled out of India for the Gadhimai Festival in Nepal where large scale animals sacrifices take place.

The new rules were notified on May 23, 2017, after “duly examining and incorporating, wherever found suitable, the 13 representations received regarding the aforesaid rules”, officials add.

After the May-23 notification, some new representations have been received, they say, regarding certain provisions, which are now being studied.

Defending the new rules, the MoEF says the prime focus of the regulation is to protect the animals from cruelty and not to regulate the existing trade in cattle for slaughter houses.

"It is envisaged that welfare of cattle dealt in the market will be ensured and that only healthy animals are traded for agriculture purposes for the benefits of the farmers.

“The notified rules will remove the scope of illegal sale and smuggling of the cattle which is a major concern. The specific provisions apply only to animals which are bought and sold in the notified live stock markets and animals that are seized as case properties and do not cover other areas,” they say.