SC declines urgent hearing on Eid animal slaughter plea

New Delhi

The Supreme Court refused to urgently hear a plea against the Bombay High Court’s order allowing animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha and Urs at a ‘dargah’ located within Vishalgad fort in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district. The fort is a protected monument, and authorities had banned animal and bird slaughter on its grounds.

The plea sought to challenge the High Court’s June 3 decision permitting the practice during religious events. The bench, led by Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, noted that many religious activities happen in protected monuments, questioning the urgency of the plea since Eid was imminent.

The counsel argued that Maharashtra had a notification banning slaughter in protected areas, but the High Court allowed it last year under specific conditions—only in enclosed private spaces, not public areas. The court’s order extended permission to all devotees, not just the ‘dargah’ trust.

The Archaeology Deputy Director opposed animal sacrifice, citing the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Act. The trust maintained that the practice is a long-standing tradition conducted on private land about 1.4 km from the fort, with meat distributed among pilgrims and locals.

The Supreme Court bench said the matter would become irrelevant if delayed and decided not to give it urgent hearing. The High Court had imposed conditions ensuring slaughter only in private, enclosed areas to protect the monument.