The Supreme Court stays an order of the Madras High Court that had directed a blanket ban on cow and calf slaughter in Tamil Nadu. The High Court’s decision was issued on May 27, on the eve of Bakrid, following a public interest litigation. Sources report that the High Court instructed the Tamil Nadu administration to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered anywhere in the state, not only on Bakrid but also on other days.
Tamil Nadu’s government challenged the High Court order by filing a special leave petition, arguing that the High Court went beyond the scope of the PIL and imposed a statewide prohibition. The state contends that existing laws and restrictions govern slaughter differently, and that the High Court’s directions conflict with the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, which allows slaughter of certain cows subject to conditions and certification.
The Supreme Court grants interim relief by staying the High Court’s directive while it issues notice and considers the petition. The bench indicates that the portion of the High Court order requiring a state-wide ban may require correction, without reaching a final decision on the legality of the High Court’s underlying basis.
