‘Isn't health above religion’: HC refuses to interfere in BMC's decision on animal sacrifices for Bakri Eid

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to interfere in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations BMC decision to impose restrictions on the number of animals to be sacrificed at the Deonar abattoir in the city for Bakri EidA bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni said that the state administration had imposed the restrictions keeping in mind the prevailing Covid19 situationThe bench was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking among other things that the BMC be directed to increase the number of animals to be sacrificed at the abattoir over the next three daysAs per the circular issued by the BMC on July 19 the Deonar abattoir will remain open between 6 am and 6 pm from July 21 to July 23 and 300 buffaloes or big animals will be permitted to be sacrificed on each of these three daysThe petitioners however sought that the civic body allow 700 to 1000 big animals to be sacrificed per day for the next three daysAlso read Maharashtra MLC nominations HC reserves order on plea on Guvs delayAdvocate Tanveer Nizam the counsel for one of the petitioners told the court that as the BMC had not given any prior indication that the number of animals to be sacrificed will be limited people had bought a large number of animals to be sacrificed and many of them will be left out nowThe High Court however asked Isnt public health above religionThis is done keeping in mind the prevailing circumstances the pandemic Possibly next time Otherwise the administration will not be able to manage the court saidSenior counsel Anil Sakhre who appeared for the BMC informed the court that the restrictions on the number of animals to be sacrificed in the city had been imposed as a measure of crowd control at the abattoirLast year it was 150 animals per day this year 300 per day People can come offer sacrifice This is to avoid overcrowding Sakhre saidA decision to limit the timings and the number of animals to be sacrificed was taken by the state government on July 2 keeping in mind the COVID19 protocols following which the BMC issued its circularNow all the festivals are starting for Hindus and Muslims Ganpati and Navratri will also be there We are taking these precautions for the third wave the senior counsel saidThe High Court took his submissions on record and said that the restrictions were the decision of the executive and did not warrant any interference from the courtThe bench however stayed a circular issued earlier this month by the commissioner of the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation BNCMC that permitted 38 temporary slaughterhouses to operate on July 21 in the areas under its jurisdictionThese temporary spaces were not licensed slaughterhouses and hence could not be allowed to operate as the ritual can take place only at designated prelicensed slaughterhouses in accordance with law the bench observedThe BNCMC commissioner had proceeded to issue the circular without obtaining any permission from the state government the court saidWe have no other option but to stay the circular No slaughter should be allowed except in licensed slaughterhouses In case of any violation of statutory rules appropriate action shall be taken by the police authorities it saidMeanwhile another bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar also passed orders on another plea regarding animal slaughter in Mumbra area of Thane districtThe bench directed the Thane police commissioner to ensure that no illegal slaughter of animals took place within the jurisdiction of the Mumbra police stationWe are of the view that the slaughtering of animals ought to be confirmative with the licenses issued by competent authority and at designated spaces during designated hours the bench led by Justice Shinde saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever