Supreme Court Issues Notice on PIL Seeking Ban on Animal Sacrifice for Religious Rituals

The Supreme Court issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a nationwide ban on animal sacrifice for religious rituals.

The petitioner requested a direction to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry to amend Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

This section currently acts as a savings clause, stating that killing animals in a manner required by religion is not an offence. The PIL argues that such practices constitute extreme animal cruelty and neglect.

The Bench sought responses from the concerned authorities regarding the constitutional validity of these religious exemptions in light of animal welfare.

[Shruti Bist v. Ministry of Animal Husbandry]