SC Declines Urgent Hearing on Cow Slaughter Ban Plea Before Bakrid (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking strict enforcement of anti-cow slaughter laws ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, commonly known as Bakrid.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that there was no immediate urgency in the matter as the petition had been filed shortly before the festival. The matter was mentioned before the court by advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, who requested urgent listing of the plea.
The bench, however, declined to treat the matter as urgent and indicated that it would be heard in due course.
The PIL was filed by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, former vice-president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. The petition sought directions to state governments and local authorities to ensure strict implementation of existing laws prohibiting cow slaughter.
Supreme Court declines urgent hearing on PIL seeking strict enforcement of cow slaughter ban ahead of Bakrid. CJI Surya Kant-led bench says there is “no urgency” as plea was filed just before the festival. #SupremeCourt #Bakrid #CowSlaughter #IndiaNews pic.twitter.com/dwaAPf1gjy
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It also called for tighter regulation and monitoring of slaughterhouses ahead of Bakrid, when animal sacrifice is traditionally observed in many parts of the country.
According to the plea, authorities should take preventive steps to ensure compliance with laws governing slaughter practices and public order during the festival period.
In a related development, the Calcutta High Court recently declined to stay a notification issued by the West Bengal government regarding regulation of cattle slaughter during Eid-ul-Adha.
The High Court directed the state administration to strictly enforce existing rules and ensure that slaughter does not take place in public spaces.
During the hearing, the court also referred to earlier observations made by the Supreme Court stating that cow sacrifice is not considered an essential religious practice under Islam.
Cow slaughter laws in India vary from state to state. Several states impose complete bans on cow slaughter, while others permit regulated slaughter under specific legal and administrative conditions.
Authorities across states generally issue special guidelines and monitoring mechanisms during Bakrid to maintain law and order and ensure compliance with local regulations.
