Cow slaughter not part of Eid or Islam: Kolkata HC

The Kolkata High Court has upheld a government restriction banning the slaughter of animals in open public spaces in West Bengal, while also making observations regarding the religious status of animal sacrifice during Eid al-Azha.

A bench comprising Justices Sujoy Paul and Partha Sarathi Sen declined to stay the West Bengal government’s directive issued on May 13, which prohibits the slaughter of animals in public areas and requires strict compliance with animal welfare and regulatory norms.

According to a report by legal news portal LiveLaw, the court observed that the Supreme Court, in the Mohd. Hanif Qureshi vs State of Bihar case, had earlier held that cow sacrifice is not an essential part of the Eid al-Adha festival and is not a mandatory religious obligation under Islam.

The court ordered that slaughter of cattle, including cows and buffaloes, in open or public spaces remains strictly prohibited.

The ruling came after petitions were filed challenging the state government’s notification under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, including by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, among others. The petitioners had sought exemptions under Section 12 of the Act to allow religious practices during Eid.

However, the court directed the state government to take a decision regarding exemption requests under the relevant legal provisions, while maintaining that no interim relief would be granted against the notification.

The state’s May 13 directive also requires animals to possess fitness certification before slaughter, with authorities empowered to take punitive action for violations.