New Delhi, June 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday declined to grant an urgent hearing to a petition challenging a Bombay High Court order that permitted animal sacrifice near a Dargah located within Vishalgad Fort in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district during the Bakr-Eid celebrations on June 7.

The plea, mentioned before a vacation bench comprising justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, sought immediate intervention against the June 3 High Court order allowing the ritual sacrifice at the historically protected site.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that Vishalgad Fort is a notified protected monument under the Maharashtra government and raised concerns about recurring law and order issues linked to such permissions in previous years.

However, Justice Karol questioned the urgency of the plea, pointing out that similar permissions with restrictions were granted last year and that the High Court had already imposed conditions ensuring the sacrifices takes place within a “closed and private area.”

“We are sure the High Court has considered this,” Justice Karol remarked. He also observed that multiple religious activities take place in protected monuments across the country, irrespective of the faith involved.

The counsel acknowledged that the High Court had last year permitted animal slaughter under restricted conditions and noted that this year’s order mirrored those provisions. Nevertheless, the counsel pressed for a listing, citing past tensions.

Justice Karol, drawing from his tenure as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, recalled passing an order banning animal sacrifice, which was later modified by the Supreme Court to allow it within enclosed premises.

“Sitting in Tripura, I had banned animal slaughter there. This court modified the matter to say it will be carried out in enclosed premises,” he noted.

The bench, however, refused to list the matter urgently, observing that the issue would become infructuous once the festival passes. “What is the urgency? The matter will be infructuous anyhow,” Justice Karol stated.

The June 3 Bombay High Court order, passed by justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Firdosh Pooniwalla, reiterated an earlier order dated June 14, 2024, which had permitted animal and bird sacrifice in a closed area near the Dargah, not in any public or open space.

The same conditions were extended to cover the upcoming Bakr-Eid and the Urs festival scheduled from June 8 to June 12.

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