In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has intervened in a contentious issue concerning the slaughter of animals during the Bakri Eid festival. The court directed the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) to review a fresh plea seeking permission for animal slaughter, setting a deadline for the decision to be made by noon on June 16.
Cancellation of Permission
The directive follows the MBMC's animal husbandry department's decision on June 10 to cancel a temporary permission granted for the slaughter of sacrificial animals during Bakri Eid. This move came after the civic body rescinded its earlier order from June 5, citing concerns raised by local law enforcement regarding potential law and order issues in the area. Rizwan Khan, a petitioner in the case, approached the Bombay High Court seeking to overturn the MBMC's decision to revoke the slaughter permit. Justices Shyam Chandak and Revati Dere, presiding over the division bench, emphasized that mere concerns over law and order were insufficient grounds for cancellation, especially since the initial permission was granted based on existing regulations.
Urgency and Legal Clarity in Court's Decision
Recognizing the urgency of the matter, the bench directed Khan to file a fresh application with the MBMC seeking permission to slaughter buffaloes at a designated location. The court instructed the competent authority to expedite the decision on this application, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, including the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976. The court mandated MBMC to finalize its decision by noon on June 16 and communicate the outcome to Khan by 2 pm on the same day.
Similar Case at Vishalgad Fort
Meanwhile, in a related case, the Bombay High Court also ruled in favor of allowing the sacrifice of animals during Bakri Eid and Urs at a Dargah within the Vishalgad Fort precincts in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. Justices BP Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla granted this permission following a petition by the Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb Dargah Trust, contesting a ban imposed by local authorities on animal slaughter in the fort area. The Trust sought to continue its age-old tradition during Bakri Eid and the forthcoming four-day Urs, scheduled from June 17 to 21.
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