The Bombay High Court has recently directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to establish a grievance forum to receive complaints from citizens regarding legal violations related to animal sacrifice or slaughter during festivals, including the upcoming Bakrid.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Sandeep Marne also directed the BMC to prominently display on its website the regulatory mechanisms in place during such religious festivals where animal sacrifices or slaughter occur.
The Court added that the BMC must prominently display toll free numbers for raising grievances.
This directive was passed based on a 2018 plea filed by the non-government organization Jiv Maritri Trust, which had challenged public notices issued by the BMC at that time concerning animal sacrifices or slaughter.
The High Court, back in August 2018, had observed the need for the BMC to establish a comprehensive regulatory policy to ensure the orderly and lawful conduct of animal slaughter or sacrifices during festivals.
One year later, the High Court directed the BMC to adhere to all relevant safety, hygiene, and public safety standards during such occasions. Responding to this, the BMC introduced a policy that involved granting temporary no objection certificates (NOCs) to individuals for animal slaughter during festivals or ceremonies.
The BMC’s counsel, Senior Advocate Anil Sakhare, informed the bench that the NOC policy had been regularly reviewed and modified as necessary. He further explained that the issue arose annually during Bakri-Eid, and it was addressed on an as-needed basis. Advocate Sakhare further informed the bench that a public notice, including toll-free numbers, had been published in newspapers to facilitate complaint registration. Additionally, he mentioned the availability of a dedicated 24×7 task force to handle issues reported through the helpline number or email.
