Ensure No Illegal Slaughter Of Animals In South Mumbai Housing Society On Bakrid, Bombay HC Tells BMC

In a special urgent hearing held on Wednesday after the regular court hours, the Bombay High Court directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to ensure no illegal slaughtering of animals is carried out during the Bakrid festival at a residential colony in south Mumbai.

BCCL

What Bombay HC said

A division bench of Justices G S Kulkarni and Jitendra Jain said slaughtering can be permitted at the Nathani Heights society only if licence is granted by the civic body.

"In the event, the Municipal Corporation has not issued a licence to undertake slaughtering of animals at the said place, the officers of the Municipal Corporation with the aid of the police personnel shall take appropriate action in accordance with law to prevent slaughtering of animals proposed for tomorrow (June 29)," the court said.

BCCL

The bench was hearing a petition filed by one Haresh Jain, a resident of the society, seeking a complete ban on the slaughtering of animals there.

Advocate Joel Carlos, appearing for the BMC, said a complete ban cannot be issued.

Carlos said the civic body's officers would inspect the society premises, and appropriate action would be taken if there is any violation.

The bench, in its order, said in the event an action is required to be taken, then the police station concerned shall provide appropriate police assistance to the municipal corporation officers.

No sacrifice of animals at homes, flats

It should be noted that in 2019 the Bombay HC had banned the slaughter of sheep and goats in flats and homes during Bakrid.

BCCL/ File

The HC had allowed the BMC to permit slaughtering animals in housing societies but has introduced a rider that approval should not be granted if the society is located within one-kilometre walking distance from a community space for slaughtering, including a religious slaughtering space.

Goats at Mira road society spark protest

On Wednesday, a residential complex in Thane district's Mira Road saw a massive protest by residents there after one resident, Mohsin Sheikh, brought two goats to the colony for sacrifice on Bakrid.

The move sparked an uproar among many society members, who subsequently gathered to protest, chanting Jai Shri Ram.

Residents of Mira road's JP Infra society chanted Hanuman Chalisa protesting against a resident who carried 2 goats for qurbani into the apartment. #Mumbai #Bakrid2023 #BakraEid #Qurbani2023 #Qurbani #Hanuman pic.twitter.com/xqt4r4z5Qw

¡ª anuj kumar singh (@sanuj42) June 28, 2023

"Our society had passed a rule that no livestock would be allowed inside the society, but they violated it and brought two goats inside," one resident told ANI.

Following the controversy, Sheikh claimed that in previous years, the building's owner had provided space for Muslims to keep livestock for the festival. This year, however, he was told that there was no space available, so he had to bring them home.

He also added that the two goats were not brought to be sacrificed within the society but at a designated area.

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