Calcutta HC upholds ban on cattle slaughter

Muslim MLA from TMC had filed petition against government order

Kolkata – The Calcutta High Court refused to interfere with the West Bengal Government’s order imposing restrictions on the slaughter of bulls, oxen, cows, calves, and buffaloes in view of Bakri Eid (Eid-ul-Adha). The government had issued a notification regarding this on 13 May. The Court stated, “This notification is merely the implementation of directions issued by the Court in 2018. There is no dispute regarding this. Owing to this, we find no substantial reason to stay or quash the notification.”

Akhruzzaman, an MLA from the Trinamool Congress, had argued through his petition that the state government’s 13th May notification did not grant any exemption under Section 12 of the ‘West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act’. Therefore, according to him, it would become legally impossible to perform the religious practice of animal sacrifice during the upcoming Bakri Eid festival. He argued that for many Muslims, sacrificing larger animals such as buffaloes, bulls, or oxen is the only economically affordable way to fulfil the religious obligation.

Sacrifice of a cow is not an essential part of Bakri Eid: Supreme Court of India

While hearing the matter, the High Court referred to an earlier Supreme Court judgement stating that the sacrifice of a cow is not an essential or mandatory religious practice of Eid-ul-Adha (Bakri Eid) in Islam.