New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to stay Himachal Pradesh High Court order to put an end to the age-old practice of sacrificing animals during religious ceremonies in the hill state but agreed to hear an appeal challenging the verdict.
A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu issued notice to Himachal government and sought its response on the appeal which contended that the High Court erred in banning sacrifices in temples and in buildings adjoining places of worship.
The High Court had banned the sacrifice of animals in temples, saying they "cannot be permitted to be killed in a barbaric manner to appease Gods."
"No person throughout the state shall sacrifice any animal in any place of public religious worship, including all land and buildings near such places of religious worship which are ordinarily connected to religious purposes," the High Court had said.
Maheshwar Singh, a local legislator, approached the apex court challenging the High Court order and pleaded for immediate stay on it in view of Dussehra festival.
