New Delhi, October 12: Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a blanket ban on meat export for consumption and leather, the Supreme Court said it cannot issue an order for everyone to become a vegetarian. The apex court made the significant remark while asking a question to the petitioners whether they want the entire country to become vegetarian.

“Do you want the entire country to be full of vegetarians?” Justice Madan B Lokur asked non-governmental organisations Healthy Wealthy Ethical World and Guide India Trust, which had filed the PIL. “We cannot issue an order that everybody should be a vegetarian," Justice Lokur said, as reported by Live Law. The top court deferred the hearing to February 2019.

In July 2017, the Supreme Court stayed the government’s notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter at markets across the country. Following the apex court's ruling, the government had withdrawn the notification. The notification had mandated declarations by sellers and buyers that the animals would not be taken for slaughter.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2018 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).