The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to grant an urgent hearing to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the strict implementation of laws banning cow slaughter across India ahead of the upcoming Bakrid festival.
A vacation bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the plea for an immediate listing, pointing out the last-minute nature of the request.
“You remembered this a day before. No urgency. Thanks,” the bench remarked during the brief hearing.
Last-Minute Push for Enforcement
The matter was brought before the court by advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, who urged the bench to schedule the case for Wednesday, just one day before the festival.
“Day after tomorrow is Bakrid,” Sinha argued before the bench on Tuesday. “This is a plea to seek implementation of anti-cow slaughter law. If this can be listed tomorrow.”
However, the apex court remained unconvinced of the immediate necessity to bypass standard listing procedures.
What the Petition Seeks
The PIL, initiated by Satish Kumar Aggarwal—the former vice-president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha—aims to enforce a complete ban on the slaughter of cows and their progeny.
Beyond immediate enforcement ahead of the festival, the petition calls for systemic changes. It seeks a judicial directive ordering all state governments to formalize and notify specific guidelines to regulate slaughterhouses nationwide, ensuring they operate strictly in accordance with existing laws.
