Kolkata: Days after the newly-formed BJP government took charge in West Bengal, it issued a notice directing that bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes cannot be slaughtered without a certificate declaring them unfit.
The guidelines, issued under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, were challenged in Calcutta High Court by multiple persons ahead of Eid al-Adha next week.
Hearing the petitions, the high court on Thursday refused to interfere with the West Bengal government’s directive.
A Division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen held that the May 13 notification had been issued in compliance with previous orders passed by the high court, Bar and Bench reported.
“This is also not in dispute that the order passed by the coordinate Bench in WP 328 of 2018 has attained finality. In this view of this matter, we find no basis to stay or set aside the public notice dated 13.05.2026. Thus, these petitions are dismissed so far notice dated 13.05.2026 is concerned,” the court said.
The court made it clear that only animals certified unfit could be slaughtered, and that too only at authorised slaughterhouses approved by the authorities, who were empowered to inspect premises to prevent illegal animal slaughter.
“In addition, whether responsible officers are in place in the state for issuing such certificate and whether the necessary infrastructure is at place in the entire state where slaughter can take place. If any deficiency is found by the state, we hope and trust that same shall be cured at the earliest,” the court added.
Trinamool Congress MLA Akhruzzaman, one of the petitioners, said that the religious practice of animal sacrifice during the upcoming Eid al-Adha could not be lawfully carried out as the state government did not grant exemptions, under Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act.
Akhruzzaman contended that sacrificing animals like buffaloes, bulls or bullocks is the only economically viable way to fulfil the religious obligation for a majority of Muslims.
“The price of goats and sheep rises steeply in the period immediately preceding Bakrid, rendering them an option exclusively for wealthier Muslims,” the MLA argued.
The court observed in its ruling that the Supreme Court had previously held that cow sacrifice is neither an essential part of Eid al-Adha nor a mandatory religious practice under Islam.
The high court, however, clarified that the state government was free to take an independent decision under Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act regarding exemptions sought by the petitioners.
“Considering the fact that the festivals may take place on 27/28th of this month, the State shall take a decision in this regard within 24 hours from the date of communication of this order,” the bench said.
