Difficult Bakrid ahead for Mumbaikars: Bombay HC bans slaughter of goats and sheep inside flats, houses

The High Court of Bombay on Tuesday, August 6 banned the slaughter of sheep and goats in flats and homes during celebration of Eid-ul-Adha or Bakrid.

The division bench of HC comprising of Justice Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari and Justice Gautam Patel restricted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from giving permissions for slaughter inside flats and houses.

HC bench further asked the corporation to give permission for slaughtering animals in housing societies, but with a rider that approval should not be granted if the housing society is located within one kilometre distance from a community space for slaughtering, including a religious slaughtering space.

According to a report in The Times of India, "In our view, the requirements of public safety, hygiene and sanitation makes it impossible to accept any policy that permits slaughtering inside individual flats. In a city that is as densely crowded and congested as Mumbai and where typical residential apartments are small, we do not believe it is possible to make effective arrangements for human, hygienic and safe methods of sacrificial slaughter within a residential flat. Many of these flats are homes for the very old or the very young (or both). We believe these concerns override all others," said the judges.

"We restrain all slaughtering within residential flats or accommodations.”

High Court has asked the corporation to "strictly and stringently maintain all applicable safety, hygienic and public safety norms and requirements and to move expeditiously against all violations."

Bombay High Court was hearing a plea filed by two organisations Jiv Maitri Trust and Viniyog Parivar, challenging BMC's policy to grant temporary NOC for the slaughter of sheep and goats during the festival.

Earlier, the bench had suggested that the entry points and toll nakas into Mumbai and suburbs like Chembur, Kurla, Byculla and Sewri could be monitored. "If suitable measures are taken, the vehicles entering the city, along with animals traded for slaughter can be identified. Due check and thereafter a list can be made of such animals and vehicles (and it) can be forwarded to the police and BMC for necessary action... If such joint vigil is maintained, then, that would be ideal," the judges had said, reported TOI.

The High Court said that it will take up the issue of granting temporary permissions at a later stage during the final hearing of the petitions.