Bombay HC directs BMC to issue regulation for the Eid sacrifice at Deonar abattoir

MUMBAI: The

Bombay high court

on Friday directed BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue a circular before the day ends on "regulatory steps and procedures" to be followed while making the sacrifice of water buffaloes at Deonar Abattoir in Mumbai for

Bakra-Eid

that begins on Saturday.


The Eid is scheduled to begin on August 1 and will be celebrated till August 3.

Usually during Bakra-Eid about 15,000 sacrifices would take place at the abattoir, said a Publlic interest litigation but during the pandemic given financial difficulties the number of sacrifices would be less than 40 percent.

The bench of chief

justice Dipankar Datta

and Justice Sarang Kotwal was hearing the PIL filed by Al-quraish Human Welfare Association and others who sought its intervention after pointing to a July 25 order where the court in one matter had restricted all slaughter to take place at the abattoir alone. The PIL petitioners Mohammad Asif Qureshi and Haji Kudratullah Quereshi through their lawyer Asif Ali said since the abattoir is closed, sans a special order, sacrificing water buffaloes there will not be possible.

The bench asked special civic counsel Anil Sakhare what the situation was asked for information on the number of sacrifices that can be permitted at the abattoir. The bench said BMC should later the same day bring out a circular with all details and regulations.

The BMC is in the process of finalizing its circular now.

The PIL said for commercial trading of buffallo meat the Deona Abattoir was permitting 150 to be slaughtered each day during the lockdown and on general days more than 6,000 water buffaloes would be slaughtered each week at the abattoir.

The PIL said that on July 17 due to Covid-19 with no sale or trade permitted at the Deonar abattoir, people purchased water buffaloes for sacrifice online.

Due to the Covid-19 situation the trading of water buffaloes stopped for a time being at Deonar abattoir. However on July 17 the government vide notification permitted the online purchase of all types of cattles. As per we purchase the cattle (buffaloes) through whatsapp and other social network but where will a muslim go to sacrifice them and hence had filed PIL seeking court’s directions?" ask petitioner Mohammed Qureshi.

The petitioner also had stated that they are well aware about the pandemic of covid as well its infection and the BMC should issue guidelines in all circumstances social distancing to be maintained and the activity of sacrificing be restricted and immediately after scar.

Imran Qureshi the Vice President of All India Jamiatul Qureshi Jamat said, "Its a major relief for the muslims particularly poor who cannot afford to buy goats wanted to perform the qurbani (sacrifice) buying their share in buffaloes where seven person can contribute.Due to the pandemic the financial condition is already under strain."

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