Introduction
The Uttarakhand High Court has issued an order permitting the establishment of a slaughterhouse at a designated location for the ritual sacrifice of goats during the Nanda Devi festival. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Guhanathan Narendar and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, delivered the decision while adjudicating a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought judicial approval for the practice, citing its significance as a long-standing tradition.
Background of the Litigation
The legal proceedings were initiated in the context of a ban on animal sacrifice imposed at the Naina Devi temple in Nainital since 2015. The PIL, filed by local resident Pawan Jatav and other petitioners, argued that the prohibition on animal entry and sacrifice within the temple precincts, which has been in effect for several years, was adversely affecting the religious customs of devotees. The petitioners contended that the practice of animal sacrifice is an integral part of the Nanda Devi festival and requested the court to allow a dedicated facility for this purpose during the festivities.
Legal Arguments and Court’s Deliberation
During the hearing, the court considered the petitioners’ arguments centered on religious tradition. In opposition, animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, representing People for Animals (PFA), raised concerns regarding the environmental impact of conducting animal sacrifices in public spaces. After weighing the submissions from both sides, the bench acknowledged the religious sentiments of the devotees while also considering the need for public order and environmental regulation.
The Court’s Directive
In its final order, the High Court directed the municipal council to identify and earmark a suitable location for setting up the slaughterhouse. The court further instructed the state’s pollution control board to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the designated site, ensuring compliance with environmental norms. To maintain hygiene and procedural standards, the bench also mandated that a food inspector must supervise the entire process of ritual sacrifice. This ruling provides a regulated mechanism for a traditional practice that had been altered following the 2015 ban, which had led many devotees to substitute goat sacrifice with the offering of coconuts at an earmarked area within the temple premises.
