Delhi HC denies urgent order on plea for strict implementation of anti-illegal animal slaughter laws on Bakrid

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to pass urgent order on a plea seeking implementation of a Delhi Government advisory which said that no animal should be sacrificed outside licensed slaughterhouses on Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) on June 29.

A vacation bench comprising Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Manoj Jain refused to pass any order, saying that there is no urgency in the matter. It said that the plea will be placed before the regular bench on the reopening of the court, Live Law reported.

Petitioner Ajay Gautam filed the plea in an already pending plea in the High Court dealing with the slaughter of animals. He contended that an advisory was issued by the Delhi Government to local authorities as well as Delhi Police regarding the illegal sacrifices of animals on Bakrid, however, the Deputy Mayor of the MCD has said that it will be ignored.

The Delhi Government advisory asked the concerned authorities to take suitable precautionary measures to enforce laws relating to welfare of animals to stop illegal killings of animals during the festival of Bakrid and to take stringent action against the offenders.

Gautam urged from the court for passing of an order for strict implementation of the Delhi Government advisory and action against the Deputy Mayor of the MCD for his alleged statement that the advisory will be ignored.

The bench, however, told Gautam that there is no urgency in the matter and he has approached the court at the last minute and since his plea dealing with slaughter of cows and other animals is pending before the bench headed by the Chief Justice, it will be dealt with by the same bench.

“This matter should appropriately be heard by the regular bench instead of being taken in the last week of vacation,” the vacation bench of the High Court said.