Will allow animal sacrifice at Saptashrungi temple: Maharashtra government to Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra government recently told the Bombay High Court that it will permit animal sacrifice at the famous Saptashrungi temple located in Nashik district of Maharashtra..A division bench of Justices SV Gangapurwala and RN Laddha recorded the same and disposed of a petition filed in 2019 by Adhivasi Vikas Sansth challenging an order of the sub-divisional officer (SDO) imposing a State-wide ban on animal sacrifices on temple premises.“In view of the arrangement made by the sub-divisional officer, Tahsildar, Police Inspector and the Trust, so also, the Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat, purpose of the Writ Petition does not survive,” the Bench held..The petition pointed that animal sacrifice stopped in 2016 after a firing took place in 2016 injuring twelve persons. The order banning animal sacrifice was passed by SDO in 2017 and the present petition came to be filed in 2019.The petition claimed that due to an accidental bullet firing incident people got hurt and that triggered a ban. However, since time immemorial, tribal and other communities had been sacrificing goats and this ritual was an integral part of their religion.The village where Saptashrungi temple was located apprehended that if the ritual is not carried out, there would be a bad omen.The petition claimed that the SDO passed the order without inviting any objections and, thereafter, many representations were made to the authorities to lift ban on animal sacrifice. The petitioner trust submitted a proposal to allow only six persons to be present during the ritual and only one goat be sacrificed.The State told the Court that it will allow animal sacrifice ritual, but without permitting any other ritual including the salutation fire after sacrifice which is part of the custom.The Court accepted the State's stand and disposed of the plea..[Read Order]