Chennai: Supreme Court stays Madras High Court cow slaughter ban in Tamil Nadu after hearing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government. The top court has temporarily put the High Court’s order on hold and issued notice in the case. The matter will now be heard in detail before a final decision is taken.
Tamil Nadu Cow Slaughter Case: Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Madras High Court’s order that had directed a statewide ban on the slaughter of cows and calves in Tamil Nadu. A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order while hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Tamil Nadu government. The Bench also issued notice in the matter.
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Why Did the Tamil Nadu Government Move the Supreme Court
The Tamil Nadu government challenged the Madras High Court’s May 27 order. The State argued that the High Court went beyond the scope of the original Public Interest Litigation (PIL). According to the government, the petitioner had only requested better implementation of existing laws to prevent illegal slaughter outside authorised slaughterhouses—not a complete ban across the State.
Tamil Nadu Cow Slaughter Case: What Was the Madras High Court’s Order
The Madras High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered on the eve of Bakrid or on any other day. The High Court also observed that cow slaughter is not an essential religious practice in Islam. Its order effectively resulted in a blanket ban on cow and calf slaughter across Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Government’s Main Arguments
The State government told the Supreme Court that:
- The High Court exceeded its legal powers by ordering a statewide ban.
- Existing laws in Tamil Nadu regulate cattle slaughter instead of imposing a total prohibition.
- Police had already increased surveillance and identified authorised slaughterhouses to prevent illegal animal sacrifice.
- The question of whether cow sacrifice is an essential religious practice was not part of the original case and should not have been decided in the judgment.
- The High Court relied on an old 1976 government order without fully considering the present legal framework.
Existing Law in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu already has laws regulating cattle slaughter. Under the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, slaughter of certain cattle is allowed only under specific conditions and after obtaining the required legal certification. The law regulates slaughter rather than imposing a complete statewide ban.
