Tamil Nadu Challenges High Court’s Cow Slaughter Ban in Supreme Court
State government says the High Court's order goes beyond existing law and seeks an immediate stay on its implementation.
The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court of India against a Madras High Court order that directed a complete ban on the slaughter of cows and calves across the state.
In its petition, the state government argued that the High Court exceeded its legal authority by issuing directions that are contrary to the existing legal framework governing animal slaughter in Tamil Nadu. It has requested the Supreme Court to set aside the order and grant an interim stay until the matter is finally decided.
The controversy began after a Madras High Court bench issued the directive on May 27 while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by the General Secretary of the Hindu Makkal Katchi. The petition had originally sought directions to ensure that animal sacrifice during Eid al Adha in Coimbatore was carried out only at government designated locations and not in public places.
However, during the hearing, the High Court expanded the scope of the case and directed that no cow or calf should be slaughtered anywhere in Tamil Nadu, either during Eid al Adha or on any other day.
The Tamil Nadu government told the Supreme Court that it had already informed the High Court that adequate measures were in place to prevent slaughter in public spaces. According to the state, police deployment had been strengthened, authorised slaughterhouses had been identified, and government officials were assigned to monitor compliance with the law.
The government argued that since the administration was already enforcing the law, the High Court’s decision to impose a statewide ban was beyond the scope of the original petition and was inconsistent with established legal and administrative principles.
The state also pointed to the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, which allows the slaughter of cows above the age of 10 years if they are no longer fit for work or breeding and have been certified by the competent authority. It said the law regulates animal slaughter under specific conditions rather than imposing a complete ban.
In its appeal, the government further stated that the High Court granted relief that was neither requested by the petitioner nor argued during the proceedings. It contended that the judgment amounted to judicial overreach by effectively creating new legal restrictions instead of interpreting the law.
The case has attracted significant attention because of its legal, constitutional, and religious implications. The Supreme Court is now expected to decide whether the High Court’s order should remain in force while the matter is heard in detail.