THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a letter on Monday urged his counterparts across the nation to rally against the Centre's dubious cattle trade restrictions, "which may be the beginning of a series of similar measures aimed at destroying the federal democratic fabric and secular culture of our country". “I would therefore fervently appeal to you to convey your objection to the 2017 Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to the Prime Minister, and to request him to withdraw the Rules introduced without any consultation with the States.
Since the matters dealt within the Rules squarely fall within the purview of State Legislatures, the State Governments may be allowed to formulate necessary policies and laws to suit the socio-cultural and economic milieu of the State,” he said. “I am sure that you are already conversant with the Notification containing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 23rd May, 2017,” he said and pointed out that the Rules imposed a number of restrictions on cattle trade which would have serious repercussions on the livelihood of millions of people, especially those in the agricultural sector in the country.
Pinarayi Vijayan said it appeared strange that the Rules were promulgated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 since they had nothing to do with the objects of the Act. Neither are the Rules covered by the express delegation of legislative powers contained in the Act. He said it was nothing but a covert attempt to usurp the powers of State legislatures in the guise of rules under a Central Act. “The subjects covered by the Rules belong to entries 15 and 18 of the State List in the Constitution. This impermissible encroachment into the domain of the State Legislatures is a clear violation of the spirit of federalism, which is acclaimed as one of the basic features of the constitution,” he said. The Rules, by imposing unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right to carry on any trade or occupation under Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution, will not stand the test of constitutionality. They also violate the basic right of a person to freedom of choice regarding his food.
“It is rather unfortunate that such a drastic measure, producing serious consequences, was introduced in exercise of the rule making power, surpassing the elected representatives of the people and avoiding any public debate. This is nothing but a negation of the democratic principle, which is indisputably accepted as forming part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” Pinarayi Vijayan. “Apart from the Constitutional and legal infirmities of the Rules, the disastrous consequences which were likely to arise if these Rules were brought into force make one shudder. It will definitely produce a chaotic situation in the rural agricultural economy in all the States,” the chief minister said.
