14 Jun. 24: The Bombay High Court on Thursday declined to stay the permissions granted to 67 private shops and 47 municipal markets in Mumbai for animal slaughter during the upcoming Eid al-Adha festival.
A division bench consisting of Justices M S Sonak and Kamal Khata noted that granting relief at this late stage, just days before the festival, would be inappropriate. The court emphasized the delay in seeking interim orders against the permissions granted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The court’s decision came in response to a petition from the Jiv Maitri Trust, a city-based NGO dedicated to animal protection and welfare. The Trust challenged a May 29 communication from the BMC that authorized the slaughter of animals in various private and municipal locations from June 17 to June 19. The NGO argued that this permission contradicted an earlier BMC policy that limited slaughter to the Deonar abattoir, prohibiting it in private premises, including meat shops and residential areas.
BMC’s counsel, Milind Sathe, highlighted that similar petitions are filed annually just before the festival and noted that last year, 72 private shops had received similar permissions. Advocate Mubin Solkar, representing intervenors opposing the petition, argued that the right to slaughter is a fundamental one, while the petitioner’s advocate contended that animal rights must also be considered.
Ultimately, the bench decided not to grant any relief, allowing the permissions for animal slaughter to stand.
