Supreme Court seeks Centre's response on plea to ban animal sacrifice in temples

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry in a petition seeking a ban on the killing of animals in the name of religion.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta sought a response from the Central government and listed it after a month.

"Issue notice, returnable in 4 weeks," the Court ordered.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Shruti Bisht alleges official inaction against the killing of animals in temples.

The petition essentially seeks a direction for amending Section 28 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and a ban on killings of animals in name of religion. Section 28 of the 1960 Act states that killing of an animal in a manner required by a religion is not an offence.

While seeking directions against the provision, Bisht has prayed for enactment of laws to protect animals slaughtered during religious ceremonies.

The PIL states that despite the initial decline in animal sacrifice in temples, the practice found its way back into Hinduism in later periods as it amalgamated with indigenous cultures.

"Presently, regions like Bali, Indonesia, Nepal, and India-the Himalayas, northeastern India, parts of Orissa and Bengal, Maharashtra, and Southern India still uphold the practice of animal sacrifice. Usually, young male animals-full of life-are chosen for bali. In some outlier cases, people have chosen to sacrifice their young or even themselves as bali to the divine. However, it was common practice for warriors to sacrifice themselves to Ma Durga to ensure victory," the plea states.

The PIL calls for a comprehensive approach - including stronger legislative measures, public awareness campaigns and collaboration with NGOs - to curb the practice.

"The killing of animals is violative to fundamental right. In prior cases, the Supreme Court has maintained that every species has a right to life. Article 21 does protect the fundamental rights of a human being, and because the word “life” is defined in various ways, and since life isn't exclusively human, the lives of animals fall under this protection as well. Thus it is in interest of justice that animals be protected from killings," it contends.

The plea has been filed by advocate Shruti Bisht.