HC stays camel slaughter for Bakrid

Chennai, Dec 28 (UNI) Madras High Court today restrained the Tamil Nadu Government from permitting slaughter of camels during the Bakrid festival on December 31 at Chennai and other places in the state.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice P Jothimani and Mr Justice K Chandru granted the interim injunction on petitions filed by the Bharathiya Prani Mithra Sang (BPMS) and Advocate G Rajendran.

The bench ordered notices to be issued to the State Home Secretary, Director and Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry, Commissioner of Police and seven others and posted further hearing to January 4.

The judges also permitted Kaja Mohideen, a camel owner, to implead himself in the case.

The bench said the Commissioner of Police, Chennai District Collector and Chennai Corporation Health Officer should ensure that no camel was slaughtered until further orders.

In its petition, the BPMS also sought a direction to the State Government not to permit entry of camels from the borders of Andhra Pradesh to the territorial limits of the state. It also sought a direction to the State Government to prohibit slaughter of camels in the public and places of worship or exhibiting or selling camel meat in the guise of performing Qurbani during Bakrid.

In his petition, Mr Rajendran sought a direction to the government to restrain any person from slaughtering camels without a valid certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Corporation of Chennai and the respective local authorities.

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