The Supreme Court (SC) has made it clear the stay on the Centre`s ban on cattle slaughter by the Madras High Court is operational across the country.

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017` notification in May by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, anyone bringing cattle to a market must have a written declaration that the animal will not be sold for slaughter.

Confusion arose as the Kerala High Court refused to order a stay on the ban, while the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court did. The SC positions make it clear the certificates will not be required.

The Centre also seemed to not want to contest the ban but also did not admit that there were problems with the notification.

Kapil Sabil, lawyer representing the Meat Exporters Association, told a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India J S Khehar that the ban was created fear among cattle traders and requested that the SC clarify its position while also ensuring that businesses are not hindered.