Madras High Court Orders Immediate Enforcement of 1976 Cow Slaughter Ban Across Tamil Nadu

Chennai, May 2026 : The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Government of Tamil Nadu to immediately implement a 1976 Government Order banning cow slaughter across the state, observing that the order carries full legal force and must be strictly enforced without exception.

A summer vacation Bench comprising Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan issued the directions while hearing a public interest litigation filed by K. Surya Prasanth, youth wing secretary of the Indu Makkal Katchi. The petitioner alleged that temporary sheds had been set up in several parts of Coimbatore for cow slaughter ahead of Bakrid celebrations.

The Bench directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered anywhere in Tamil Nadu, either during Bakrid on Thursday or on any other day. It further ordered immediate communication of these instructions to all district collectors, police superintendents and local authorities to prevent any violation.

The court also instructed the Registry to list the matter again on Friday, requiring the state government to file a detailed compliance report on the steps taken to implement the order.

In its reasoning, the Bench extensively referred to Article 48 of the Constitution, which directs the State to take steps to prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle in the interest of agriculture and rural economy. The judges observed that cow protection has deep cultural and civilisational roots in India and noted historical references, including views expressed by Mahatma Gandhi and discussions in the Constituent Assembly debates.

The court also cited previous Supreme Court rulings which have held that cow sacrifice during Bakrid is not an essential religious practice under Islam, noting that many members of the community choose alternative animals for sacrifice.

Justice Swaminathan further referred to historical examples where certain Muslim rulers had restricted cow slaughter during their reigns, reinforcing the broader constitutional and cultural context of the issue.

The Bench additionally pointed out that under the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, slaughter of animals such as goats and sheep is permitted only in licensed slaughterhouses, and not in temporary or unauthorised structures, thereby reinforcing the need for regulatory compliance.

The court observed that since executive power is co-terminus with legislative competence, the 1976 Government Order remains valid and enforceable in law. It stressed that the State is duty-bound to implement it effectively to prevent violations and ensure compliance across Tamil Nadu.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)