Bakrid 2026: Supreme Court Refuses Urgent Hearing In Plea Seeking Implementation of Anti-Cow Slaughter Laws

The Supreme Court has refused to urgently list a plea seeking enforcement of anti-cow slaughter laws ahead of Bakrid, which falls on May 28, 2026.

Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha orally mentioned the matter for urgent listing. "We are seeking a hearing so that if your lordships are persuaded, an interim order can be passed," he submitted.

Hearing this, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked, “You remember this a day before... No urgency,” refusing to grant an urgent hearing.

Anti-cow slaughter laws in India are state laws regulating or prohibiting the slaughter of cows and certain categories of cattle. Many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, and Rajasthan, have stringent bans.

Notably, few days back the Calcutta High Court on May 21 declined to stay the West Bengal Government's notification regulating animal slaughter ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, holding that the May 13 notification merely implements directions previously issued by the High Court in 2018 and therefore warrants no judicial interference at the interim stage.

High Court was hearing a batch of writ petitions and PILs challenging the State's decision to strictly enforce the provisions of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950 ahead of Bakrid.

The controversy arose from a government notification requiring a "fit for slaughter" certificate before the slaughter of specified categories of cattle, including bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes. Under the statutory framework, such certificates may be granted only in respect of animals above a prescribed age or those rendered permanently unfit for work or breeding due to injury, deformity, age or incurable disease.