Tripura govt to move apex court over HC ban on animal sacrifice in temple

Tripura government will challenge the High court's decision regarding ban on animal sacrifice in temple premises. Tripura's royal scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman had said that he believes that opulence and mass slaughter of animals in the temples is not required, he felt the High Court went beyond its jurisdiction by interfering in the customs and culture of the people.

Agartala (Tripura): The Tripura government would soon file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court over the Tripura High Court ban on animal sacrifice in all the temples of the state.

"The matter is very sensitive and already there is a pending case on the same issue in the top court of Himachal Pradesh so all aspects should be taken into consideration before coming to any decision on it, "State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ratan Lal Nath told media at state's Civil Secretariat.

He added that during the merger of Tripura with India in 1949, it was agreed that the then practices in the temples including sacrifices of animals will continue.

"We respect the High Court judgment. But as the verdict on this sensitive issue has evoked a mixed response in the state, it needs to be decided in a wider spectrum. Hence, the state government has decided to file an SLP at the Supreme Court over the order," Nath told reporters on Monday night.

Religion is a personal matter. There are many sects among the Hindus, who can opt for any choice. Tantriks believe that no puja is complete without sacrifice. We do not want to hurt anyone 'religious beliefs, Nath said.

While most of the people have welcomed the judgment, some have raised questions over the issue. Former state Congress president, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman, who declared himself as an animal lover, welcomed the judgment but viewed that the High Court has overruled the provision of the merger agreement that was signed between Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi and the governor-General of India on October 15, 1949.

On Septemeber 27, the high court had ordered a ban on the tradition of animal sacrifice in temples in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Subhash Bhattacharjee, a retired judge.

Court's Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjoy Karol and Justice Arindam Lodh gave the verdict, "no person shall be allowed to sacrifice any animal bird within the precincts of any one of the temples within the State of Tripura..."

However, despite the Tripura High Court banning sacrifice of animals and birds for religious reasons in all temples of the state, the practice continues unabated in the renowned Tripureswari temple in Gomati district.

Manager of Tripureshwari temple, Manik Datta, noting that he has not received any instructions from the temple trust or the servitor -- the district magistrate -- over the ban had said that over 100 animals were sacrificed in pilgrimage centre on the occasion of the new moon on Saturday Additional District Magistrate of Gomati district.

P L Chakma had said the administration has not received any instructions from the Tripureswari temple trust or the state revenue department regarding banning of animal sacrifice.

The High Court bench had directed all the district magistrates and superintendents of police of the state to ensure implementation of the order forthwith.

It also directed the state chief secretary to install CCTV cameras at two major temples of the state Devi Tripureswari temple and Chaturdas Devata temple - where a large number of animals are sacrificed.

The bench had also asked the chief secretary to obtain soft copies of the CCTV recordings every month.

Meanwhile, Tripura's royal scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman had said he will file a write petition in the Supreme Court challenging the verdict of the High Court.

Debbarman had said while he believes that opulence and mass slaughter of animals in the temples is not required, he felt the High Court went beyond its jurisdiction by interfering in the customs and culture of the people.