The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on a plea seeking a ban on killing animals during religious practices. The petitioner argues such acts violate animal welfare.
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry regarding a petition that seeks a prohibition on the killing of animals under the guise of religious practices.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta requested a response from the Central government and scheduled the case for a hearing in four weeks.
The Court directed,
“Issue notice, returnable in 4 weeks,”
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was submitted by Advocate Shruti Bisht, claiming that the government has not taken action against the ritualistic killing of animals in temples.
The petition aims to amend Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which currently allows for the killing of animals as part of religious practices without it being considered an offense.
Bisht is advocating for new laws that would protect animals slaughtered during religious rites. The PIL notes that while the practice of animal sacrifice in temples had initially decreased, it has seen a resurgence as it merged with indigenous cultures over time.
The plea states,
“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,”
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The petition calls for a holistic strategy that includes more robust legislative measures, awareness campaigns, and partnerships with NGOs to reduce the practice.
It contends,
“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,”
Advocate Shruti Bisht has filed the plea.
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