Bombay High Court refuses urgent listing of plea against animal sacrifice in Saptashrungi temple

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant urgent hearing in a petition challenging the permission granted by the Maharashtra government for animal sacrifice at the famous Saptashrungi temple in Nashik district of Maharashtra..A bench of Justices PB Varale and NR Borkar pulled up the lawyer for approaching the Court just a day before the ritual is slated to happen.“It is not something new. It has been happening and not just in this temple. Is this the way to come to court, a day before Dussehra? Why should we grant production? This will happen next year also,” the Court said..The lawyers pointed out that the State’s permission had come by way of a statement made in Court on September 29 after which the Court disposed of a petition challenging an order of the sub-divisional officer (SDO) imposing a State-wide ban on animal sacrifices on temple premises.The order was made available to them only in October 2, 2022..The Court, however, pointed out that since all provisions have been made by the government for the rituals, it would be improper for the Court to intervene at such a belated stage. “Thousands of devotees will be attending this year. The authorities have put in place mechanism for law and order management. Everybody is on toes, entire machinery has been put in action. This year there would be a large gathering of people and you want us to intervene in a function at this last minute. You may have all the reason and bonafide intention to come to court, but you should have come a little early,” the Court said..When the lawyer relented, the Court in a lighter vein asked the lawyer to reserve their efforts for next year before next Dussehra..The State government had recently told the Bombay High Court that it will permit animal sacrifice at the famous Saptashrungi temple located in Nashik district of Maharashtra.The Court had 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..The present petition filed by Jiv Maitri Trust sought directions to restrain public from allowing sacrifice of animals on the eve of Dussehra at the Saptashrungi temple.The petition filed through advocate Neelam Yadav stated that an animal which is slaughtered for consumption ought to be slaughtered only in a legal abbatoir and not otherwise.The plea also prayed for directions to seize all animals brought for sacrifice at the temple and to send them to a recognized shelter house.