The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure that cow slaughter is not carried out in public places or other non-designated areas during Bakrid in the State.

A Bench of Justices Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice V Lakshminarayanan observed that animal slaughter cannot take place at any location chosen by individuals and must only be conducted in authorised slaughterhouses or areas specifically designated by competent authorities.

“Slaughter cannot be done in any place you want,” the Bench remarked during the hearing, while adding that authorities are legally bound to enforce the applicable provisions.

The directions came on a petition filed by a Coimbatore-based resident and political activist, who alleged that arrangements had been made for slaughtering cows and calves at locations that were neither notified nor recognised as slaughterhouses.

The Court also expressed displeasure over the counter-affidavit filed by the Inspector of Police of D2 Selvapuram Police Station, Coimbatore, which stated that certain temporary locations had been identified for cow slaughter during Bakrid.

Questioning the legality of such arrangements, the Bench asked how temporary sheds could qualify as lawful slaughtering sites. It further clarified that the police have no authority to decide or notify slaughtering areas, stating that only the competent local authority can designate such places under the law.

The petitioner had earlier approached authorities seeking preventive measures against cow slaughter during Bakrid. After receiving no response, he moved the High Court.

While noting that the petitioner’s representation and the wording of the writ plea were not appropriately framed, the Court said this would not stop it from examining the substantive legal issue involved.

The Bench referred to a Division Bench order passed by the High Court on July 30, 2020, along with a 1976 government order issued by the Tamil Nadu government concerning cow slaughter regulations.

The Court clarified that there is no blanket prohibition on cow slaughter in all circumstances. However, it emphasised that such slaughter would be impermissible unless the statutory requirements under the relevant law are fulfilled.

Referring to the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, the Court reiterated that slaughter can only be carried out at designated places.

“Therefore, the question of carrying out slaughter in a non-designated place does not arise at all,” the Court observed.

Although the petition specifically related to Coimbatore, the Court said that the statutory provisions must be uniformly enforced throughout Tamil Nadu. It accordingly directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to ensure that no cow slaughter takes place in public places or non-designated areas during Bakrid across the State.