Hearing a public interest litigation seeking a temporary slaughterhouse for performing “animal sacrifice” as part of the Nanda Devi festival, the High Court of Uttarakhand has ordered that the sacrifice be performed at an abattoir near the temple.
The petition, filed by a man named Pawan Jatav, sought that since the Nanda Devi festival was one of the“most ancient and culturally significant festivals of Kumaon”, particularly in Nainital, celebrated annually from August 28 to September 5, the performance of sacrificial rituals be allowed.
He said that the people of Nainital and adjoining areas have deep religious faith associated with these sacrificial rituals, and they believe that the offering symbolises devotion and fulfilment of vows made to the goddess. Jatav prayed that a slaughterhouse be arranged temporarily, where the goats could be slaughtered after puja at the temple.
In 2011, the court had banned the sacrifice of animals on the temple premises, highlighting concerns of hygiene and the need for an adequate number of slaughterhouses. In 2016, the court reiterated that no sacrificial ritual should be performed on the Nanda Devi Temple premises. The petitioner said that the ban is being followed.
The petitioner said that he had submitted a representation to the District Magistrate in July, requesting that a suitable alternative be designated for such sacrificial rituals, suggesting that a slaughterhouse near the temple is a safe and appropriate place, but the authorities allegedly did not respond. He sought that the court direct the government and the municipality of Nainital to set up a temporary place for the performance of sacrificial rituals.
The counsel for the municipality submitted that the effluent treatment plant is functional and working, and the Pollution Control Board has been informed.
The court said that the officer of the PCB shall proceed to the slaughterhouse and, after inspection, permit the activities to be resumed. “An interim order of this nature is passed in view of the fact that the festival is commencing today, and the learned Chief Standing Counsel for the State submits that if this offering to the deity is prevented, it may lead to law and order issues,” the court said, directing the municipality to ensure compliance.
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An officer at the municipality said that the slaughterhouse had a few shortcomings, impeding it from getting all the approvals. “However, all these have been resolved and we have an NOC to open it for the next five days,” he said. The slaughterhouse will remain open following that, he added.
