Gauhati HC issues notice over beef ban in Sonari

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has issued a notice to the State Government in connection with a notice issued by the Executive Officer of the Sonari Municipal Board on June 30 last, whereby the business of selling of beef was completely prohibited in the municipal area concerned with effect from July 15 under Section 8 of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021.

The notice issued by the High Court is returnable on July 25, which is the next date of hearing of the matter.

Two petitioners had filed a Writ Petition (Civil) challenging the validity of the notice which enforced a complete ban on the sale of beef in the Sonari municipal area. The counsel for the petitioners submitted before the court that the business of the petitioners has been going on since the days of their forefathers in the said area and the Act in question also does not contemplate a complete ban on sale of beef and only prescribes a procedure for running the business. The competence of the Executive Officer to issue the impugned notice dated June 30 was also questioned by drawing the attention of the Court to the fact that the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 prescribes that the Government should appoint an appropriate authority, which has been not done in this case. It was further contended by the petitioners' counsel that without completing the formalities prescribed in Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, which would include allotment of an appropriate site to carry out the business, a complete ban would amount to infringing on the right to carry out the business.

While observing that the petitioners have made a prayer for an interim order, the court directed the State Government's counsel to obtain instructions on the next date, which should include the steps/measures taken to ensure that the petitioners can carry out their business as per provisions of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021.

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