Ensure No Illegal Animal Slaughtering In Housing Society On Bakri Eid, Bombay High Court Directs Mumbai Civic Body

A division bench comprising Justices GS Kulkarni and Jitendra Jain said :

“In the event the Municipal Corporation has not issued a license to undertake slaughtering of animals at the said place, the officers of the Municipal Corporation with the aid of the police personnel shall take appropriate action in accordance with law to prevent slaughtering of animals proposed for tomorrow.”

The court passed the order on a petition filed a society member of Nathani Heights named Haresh Jain. The petitioner sought directions to authorities to take necessary action and prohibit slaughter of animals in open society.

The hearing took place at 7pm after the Acting Chief Justice constituted a special bench to hear the matter urgently.

Advocate Subhash Jha argued for the petitioner. He sought an urgent stay on the slaughtering tomorrow.

Advocate Joel Carlos for the BMC submitted that no such ban could be imposed and that the BMC’s policy permitted licensed goat sacrifices on the occasion of Bakri Eid at designated locations in housing complexes. Carlos said that that an officer from BMC would be sent to check and take action if any violation was found. “Petitioners word cannot be taken to impose any ban.”

Accordingly, the court adjourned the matter for further directions on July 3, 2023 and passed the following directions in the interim.

1. Municipal Corporation shall ensure that no illegal slaughtering of animals shall be allowed at Nathani Heights, Mumbai unless the same is recognized or licensed by the Municipal Corporation.
2. Action by BMC and police to prevent slaughtering if license is not taken.
3. The Police Commissioner / Officer-in-Charge of Nagpada Police Station is directed to provide appropriate police assistance to the officers of the Municipal Corporation in the event an action is required to be taken.