New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Madras High Court order that directed the state to enforce a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves across Tamil Nadu.
In its Special Leave Petition (SLP), the State contended that the High Court exceeded the scope of the case by issuing a statewide prohibition, even though the original petition was limited to preventing cow slaughter in public places during Bakrid in Coimbatore. The government argued that the court granted relief that had neither been sought by the petitioner nor supported by the pleadings.
The State further submitted that the High Court’s directions are inconsistent with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958. Under Section 4 of the Act, the slaughter of cows is permitted if the animal is over 10 years old, permanently unfit for work or breeding, and certified as such by the competent authority. According to the government, the High Court’s order effectively overrides this statutory framework by imposing an absolute ban.
The challenge stems from a May 27 judgment of a division bench of the Madras High Court, which directed the State’s Chief Secretary and senior police officials to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered in Tamil Nadu “on Bakrid or on any other day.” The bench had also observed that cow sacrifice is not an essential religious practice under Islam and ordered strict enforcement of the ban.
The Tamil Nadu government urged the Supreme Court to set aside the high court’s directions, arguing that they are contrary to the governing legislation and beyond the scope of the writ proceedings.