Supreme Court denies urgent hearing to plea challenging Bombay High Court order allowing animal sacrifice at Kolhapur Dargah on Bakri-Eid
The Supreme Court on Friday denied urgent hearing to a petition challenging the June 3 Bombay High Court order that permitted animal sacrifice in a Dargah at the Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur on the occasion of Bakri-Eid tomorrow.
The matter was mentioned before the Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.
The Counsel appearing for the petitioner sought an urgent hearing of the matter today itself on the grounds that Eid was falling tomorrow. He apprised that the High Court also allowed animal sacrifice to be held for the Urus from June 8 to June 12.
When the lawyer submitted that the Maharashtra government had notified Vishalgarh Fort as a protected monument, the Apex Court observed that many religious activities were going on in protected monuments, be it of any religion or faith.
The lawyer acknowledged that the High Court had passed a similar order last year in June also, permitting animal slaughter to be conducted within enclosed premises. A similar condition has been imposed this year as well, he added.
The Bench then asked him about the urgency of the matter, especially when the High Court had imposed restrictions.
The Counsel said that last year, there was a huge law and order situation.
At this juncture, Justice Karol recalled that as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, he had passed an order banning animal sacrifice. However, the verdict was modified by the Supreme Court, allowing sacrifice to be conducted within enclosed premises.
When the Counsel sought listing in the coming week, the Apex Court said the matter would become infructuous by then.
On June 3, the Vacation Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla referred to the detailed order passed by the High Court on June 14, 2024, allowing the sacrifice of animals and birds in ‘a closed and private area’ near the Dargah and not in any ‘open or public place’.
The Vacation Bench said the 2024 order would be applicable even this year, along with the conditions imposed in it.
The Apex Court today recorded in its order that the High Court had already dealt with the issue and permitted the prayer A (sacrifice of animals) through its June 14, 2024 order. The same shall continue during the festival of Bakri-Eid on June 7 and during the Urs from June 8 to 12. The same conditions imposed in the June 14 verdict shall apply to the present interim application, it added.
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