SC stays Madras HC ban on cow slaughter in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi, July 13
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Madras High Court's direction to the Tamil Nadu government to ban cow slaughter in the State.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order while hearing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the High Court's May 27 directions.
The State government had moved the top court against the Madras HC decision, arguing that the High Court had travelled beyond the scope of the public interest litigation, which sought directions to prevent the slaughter of cows in public places, by imposing a blanket prohibition on the slaughter of cows and calves across the State.
According to the appeal, the High Court's direction effectively prohibited cow slaughter even in designated slaughterhouses, contrary to the statutory framework governing animal slaughter in Tamil Nadu.
The State further submitted that the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, and the applicable food safety regulations regulate animal slaughter and do not impose an absolute ban. The government had sought an interim stay on the operation of the High Court's directions.
Earlier on July 1, the Tamil Nadu government had approached the Supreme Court challenging the May 27 Madras High Court's order, which imposed a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves in the state.
The State government had argued that the High Court had gone beyond the framework of the law by directing a blanket prohibition on cow slaughter.
"In a writ petition seeking a direction to 'prevent the slaughter of cows in public places', the High Court ought to have travelled beyond the issue involved, to impose an absolute and blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves on the eve of Bakrid or any other day," the appeal of the government stated.
On May 27, the High Court, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by K Surya Prasanth, the General Secretary of Hindu Makkal Katchi, which sought direction to prevent the slaughtering of cows in public places, directed the State "to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered on the eve of Bakrid or on any other day".
The government submitted before the apex court that the High Court imposed a blanket ban on cow slaughter even in the designated slaughter houses, which is unsustainable in law for the reasons that it runs contrary to the statutory framework governing the practice of animal slaughter in the State of Tamil Nadu.
The petition submitted that the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, and the relevant food safety regulations contemplate regulation of animal slaughter and not an absolute ban.
The government sought an interim stay on the operation of the High Court's directions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good decision by SC. As a Tamilian, I support regulated slaughter in hygienic conditions rather than illegal butchering in open spaces. The HC order was impractical - people will still consume beef, but now it'll be unregulated and more cruel to animals. Better to have proper oversight.
Absolutely right move from SC 🙏 The HC was clearly influenced by religious sentiments rather than legal framework. Our constitution guarantees freedom of profession and trade. Banning cow slaughter at designated places would hurt thousands of families dependent on this industry. Let the existing laws be followed properly.
I'm saddened by this. Cows are sacred to millions of Hindus. The HC was right to protect them. The SC should have upheld the ban instead of staying it. What's wrong with banning cow slaughter completely? It's not just about religion - cows provide us milk, fertilizer, and more. We should respect all life.
Interesting legal battle. As an outsider looking in, it seems the SC is prioritizing the rule of law over emotional arguments. The Tamil Nadu government has a point - the HC exceeded its jurisdiction in a PIL case. Let the state legislature decide such matters through proper debate, not through court orders.
Cheers to SC for this 🙌 The HC order was arbitrary and went against federal principles. If TN wants a ban, let the state assembly decide through democratic process. But you can't have courts imposing dietary restrictions on people. This sets a dangerous precedent for judicial overreach.
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