SC upholds HC order banning animal sacrifice on TN hilltop

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Monday refused to interfere with the Madras high court's decision prohibiting animal sacrifice and granting Muslim devotees limited rights to pray on the Thiruparankundram hills in Tamil Nadu's Madurai. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale said that the order passed on Oct 10 was balanced and refused to entertain an appeal against it.

The HC had held that any animal sacrifice and the cooking, carrying or serving of any non-vegetarian food cannot be permitted in the Nellithoppu area until a decision is rendered by a competent civil court with regard to the customary practice of animal sacrifice on the Thiruparankundram Hillock.

"In fact, the temple Devasthanam has been declared to be the absolute owner of the traditional footsteps leading up to Nellithoppu area. The Mohammedans are only having the right of usage over the said pathway. In such circumstances, they cannot use the said pathway for any purpose other than to reach Nellithoppu area," HC had said.

Upholding the order, the apex court said, "It seems to be a very balanced order...We do not propose to interfere with the order. Without expressing any opinion on the rights of the parties, the impugned order stands upheld."

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