Published Jul 13, 2026 | 1:08 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 13, 2026 | 1:08 PM
Supreme Court of India. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Madras High Court order prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves across Tamil Nadu, including during Bakrid. The High Court had directed strict enforcement of the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act after a public interest petition alleged that cows and calves were being illegally slaughtered in temporary sheds during the festival.
The Supreme Court on Monday, 13 July, stayed a Madras High Court order prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves across Tamil Nadu, including during Bakrid.
On 27 May, the Madras High Court directed that cows and calves should not be slaughtered anywhere in Tamil Nadu, irrespective of the occasion. Challenging the order, the Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court.
The appeal came up for hearing before a bench led by Justice Vikram Nath.
After considering the submissions, the Supreme Court granted an interim stay of the High Court’s order and issued notices to the respondent, K Surya Prasanth, as well as the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police and the Coimbatore District Collector, seeking their responses.
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In its order, the High Court instructed the State government to strictly enforce the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act.
The order was passed by a vacation bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan while hearing a public interest litigation filed by K Surya Prasanth, a functionary of the Hindu Makkal Katchi from Coimbatore.
The petitioner alleged that cows were being illegally slaughtered in temporary sheds set up during the Bakrid festival.
The High Court held that the police had no authority to designate temporary locations as slaughterhouses and directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to ensure compliance with the ban.
The court further observed that animal slaughter, where permitted under law, must take place only in licensed slaughterhouses approved by local authorities.
It also observed that Islamic religious practices do not mandate the sacrifice of cows during Bakrid and that other animals may be offered instead.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
