India's top court suspends cattle slaughter ban

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India's Supreme Court suspended on Tuesday a government order that had banned the trade of cattle for slaughter, giving relief to the multi-billion dollar beef and leather industries that employ millions of poor workers.

In the latest blow to the meat and leather sectors, mostly run by Muslims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in May decreed that animal markets could only trade cattle for agricultural purposes, such as plowing and dairy production.

The rules have caused disputes among Muslims and business associations. Protesters said the new rules are not only discriminatory but also has financial implications for small traders, farmers and many Muslim workers.

A trader follows his herd of cattle towards a livestock market through a busy road in Kolkata, India, Nov. 6, 2014. /VCG Photo‍

Supreme Court Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar said the livelihoods of people cannot be subjected to uncertainties.

Several states had refused to implement the cattle-trade rules. The government said it would consider the objections and revise the rules by the end of August.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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