Calcutta High Court tells State not to encourage mass animal sacrifice at Bolla Kali temple

The Calcutta High Court recently directed the State government to take steps to ensure that mass animal sacrifice is not encouraged at the Bolla Raksha Kali Temple..This was after the Court was told that the puja committee at the temple had already taken a decision to stop the ancient practice of mass animal sacrifices at the temple. In this regard, the minutes of a meeting dated November 6, 2024, were also placed before the Court. On November 21 - a day before the festive season was slated to start at the temple on November 22 - the puja committee informed that mass slaughter rituals would not be held at the temple this year. Instead, goats would only be sacrificed at a designated area in the temple, for which license has already been obtained. The Court observed that the committee members are obligated to abide by this decision without any deviation and that they could be prosecuted if they violate the same. "Since the festival is to commence on November 22, 2024, we direct the Puja Committee to strictly abide by what they agreed in the meeting dated 6.11.2024 ... The authority of the State shall also ensure that the Puja Committee does not encourage mass sacrifice and also convince people to desist from such mass sacrifice," the Court ordered.A Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice H Bhattacharyya passed the order while dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking a ban on the mass animal sacrifice at the Kali temple..The counsel for the petitioner had earlier told the Court that after the Raas Poornima festival, more than 10,000 animals, mainly goats and buffaloes, are sacrificed each Friday at the Bolla Raksha Kali Temple.During the October hearing, the counsel added that such a practice was not an essential religious practice protected by Article 25 of the Constitution.The Court, however, observed that the religious practices in West Bengal may be unique and questioned whether the petitioner could state with certainty that the practice complained of was not an essential religious practice. The vacation Bench of the High Court added that it would be unrealistic to expect all of Eastern India to adopt veganism..A related plea filed by the Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangh was also being heard along with this PIL. During the November 21 hearing, the Court asked the respondent-authorities to file their response to the larger prayers sought in both petitions within eight weeks. "With regard to the larger relief as sought for in the writ petition, the respondents are directed to file their affidavit in opposition within eight weeks from date. Reply, if any, be filed within four weeks thereafter," the Court said. .[Read Order]