The goal is to make East India vegan? Calcutta High Court condemns PIL against animal sacrifice at temple

During the hearing, the bench asked the petitioner’s counsel whether the PIL was aimed at a specific temple or aimed at stopping animal sacrifice in a broader sense.

The petitioner’s counsel clarified that the PIL was focused on the Bolla Raksha Kali temple, where over 10,000 animals, mainly goats and buffaloes, are sacrificed every Friday after the Raas Purnima festival.

Counsel argued that such practice was not an essential religious practice protected by Article 25 of the Constitution. The court questioned the lawyer

“How can you say that? How can you come to this conclusion? How can you say that this is not a basic religious practice? Religious practices in this part of Bengal – the eastern part – are not similar to those in the northern part. there is indeed debate as to whether the mythical characters were truly vegetarians or truly non-vegetarians.”

In response, the lawyer stated that a symbolic sacrifice could occur, but there was no need to sacrifice more than 10,000 animals a day.

“You can’t limit it like that… it might shock our conscience because I know people who eat chicken but don’t see chickens being killed for offerings.” said the court.