Tamil Nadu moves to the Supreme Court challenging a May 27 order of the Madras High Court that directs the state to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered in Tamil Nadu on the eve of Bakrid and “on any other day.” The High Court’s directions are described by multiple outlets as being based on an earlier 1976 government order that prohibits cow slaughter in the interest of milk production and the improvement of the rural economy.
In its appeal, the Tamil Nadu government argues that the High Court effectively imposed a blanket prohibition that goes beyond the scope of the petition and conflicts with the legal framework governing animal slaughter in the state. The government cites the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, which permits slaughter of certain cows that are older and unfit for work or breeding, subject to certification by a competent authority, and also points to other applicable laws and rules that regulate slaughter rather than impose a total ban.
The state also contends that the High Court’s directions replace statutory provisions with judicial mandates. The government further disputes aspects of the High Court’s reasoning and the factual premises raised in the case, while the petition’s original focus is described as being limited to preventing slaughter in public places during Bakrid and ensuring slaughter occurs only in authorized facilities.
