Madras High Court Split Verdict on Animal Sacrifice at Thiruparankundram Hill

The Madras High Court has delivered a split verdict on the legality of animal sacrifice at the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah on Thiruparankundram Hill.

Justice Nisha Banu upheld the practice under Article 25 of the Constitution, citing similar Hindu rituals and cautioning against selective religious targeting.

In contrast, Justice S. Srimathy questioned the historicity of the Dargah’s customs, barred the use of alternate names like “Sikkandar Malai,” and directed the Dargah to prove, in civil court, that practices like Kandoori sacrifices predated 1920. She also condemned provocative pamphlets and banned quarrying to protect the hill’s sanctity.

The matter has been further referred to the Chief Justice.