On Friday the Supreme Court of India issued a notice to the government of Maharashtra on its complete ban on beef and its export in the state. The court will hold the next hearing on the matter after six weeks.
Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to the BJP-led state government, regarding the petition challenging the Bombay High Court’s order, permitting the consumption of beef from states that allow cow slaughter.
The Supreme Court of India
In May, The Bombay High Court had upheld a ban on cow slaughter in Maharashtra, and clearly stating that possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside the state cannot be referred to as crime.
The petition challenges the constitutional validity of Maharashtra Animals Preservation (Amendment) Act, which bans the slaughter, possession, consumption and import of beef in the state.
Last year in March, the BJP-led state government had banned the slaughtering of cows by imposing the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1976 which was later challenged in the Bombay High Court.
