Supreme Court stays Madras HC ban on cow slaughter in TN
Order comes in response to TN govt’s petition challenging HC order directing authorities to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered across TN
The Supreme Court on Monday (July 13) stayed the Madras High Court’s ban on cow slaughter in Tamil Nadu.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the state government challenging a May 27 order of the high court.
The apex court agreed to hear the matter and issued notice to the respondents.
While hearing the case, the top court said that the last paragraph of the high court’s order, prima facie, required “correction”.
High Court order
The Tamil Nadu government challenged the May 27 order of the high court, which directed the state authorities to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered across the state either on the eve of Bakrid on May 28, or on any other day.
"We allow this writ petition with a direction to the state of Tamil Nadu to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered on the eve of Bakrid or on any other day," the high court had said.
Also read: Madras HC directs Tamil Nadu govt to prevent cow slaughter, enforce 1976 ban
A high court bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayan had passed the order on the eve of Bakrid while hearing a PIL filed by K Surya Prasanth, the general secretary of Hindu Makkal Katchi.
Even though the petitioner had prayed for directions to ensure that slaughters take place only in designated places, the high court had imposed a blanket ban on slaughters of cows and calves in the state.
TN govt’s argument
In its petition to the Supreme Court, the state government termed the order contrary to the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958.
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The Act permits the slaughter of cows aged over 10 years that are unfit for work and breeding, based on a certificate issued by a competent authority.