The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Madras High Court’s October 2025 order that prohibited animal sacrifice and restricted certain religious practices by Muslim devotees at the Thiruparankundram hills in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale dismissed a petition challenging the High Court’s ruling, calling it “very balanced” and refusing to interfere.
The petition, filed by Muslim devotees, argued that the High Court’s restrictions infringed upon their fundamental right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, contended that there had never been a law-and-order issue in the area to warrant such curbs.
However, the Supreme Court noted that the existence of a peace committee in the area indicated some degree of tension or potential for conflict. “There would not have been a peace committee meeting in the absence of such a problem,” the bench remarked during the hearing.
Rejecting the challenge, the court said, “It seems to be a very balanced order… We do not propose to interfere with the order. Without expressing any opinion on the rights of the parties, the impugned order stands upheld.”
The dispute arose over the use of the Nellithoppu area on the Thiruparankundram hills—adjacent to the Subramaniya Swamy Temple—for Muslim prayers during Bakrid and Ramzan. Hindu groups opposed the use of the traditionally temple-associated space for animal sacrifice and non-vegetarian food preparation, leading to a legal challenge.
In October 2025, the Madras High Court allowed Muslim devotees to offer prayers and gather during religious festivals, but imposed key restrictions: no animal sacrifice, no cooking or carrying of non-vegetarian food, and no activity affecting the traditional access (footsteps) of the Subramaniya Swamy Temple devotees.
The High Court also directed that any decision regarding permission for animal sacrifice must be left to a competent civil court.
