New Delhi, July 13 -- The Supreme Court today stayed the Madras High Court's order directing a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves anywhere in Tamil Nadu, including during Bakri Eid and on any other day.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order while issuing notice on a special leave petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the High Court's direction.

The Bench observed that the High Court's direction imposing a state-wide ban on cow slaughter prima facie required "correction". The Tamil Nadu government argued that the order was contrary to the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, and other applicable laws, which regulate animal slaughter but do not impose a complete ban. ...