The Bombay High Court has permitted the sacrifice of animals and birds at the Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb Dargah located within the Vishalgad Fort, a protected monument in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district, during the upcoming Bakri-Eid and Urs celebrations. The court passed this interim order on June 3, 2025, in response to an application filed in connection with religious practices at the Dargah during these festivals.
The vacation bench of Justices Dr. Neela Gokhale and Firdosh Pooniwalla referred to a detailed order dated June 14, 2024, which had previously allowed such sacrifices to take place in a "closed and private area" near the Dargah and not in any open or public space. The court clarified that the conditions set out in that 2024 order would also be applicable this year.
"Considering the fact that a coordinate bench has passed an order on June 14, 2024, and has already dealt with the issue and permitted the prayer A (sacrifice of animals), the same shall continue during the forthcoming festival of Bakri-Eid on June 7 and the Urs from June 8 to June 12. Needless to state that the same conditions which have been imposed in the June 14 order shall apply to the present interim application," the court stated.
The court further clarified that this order is applicable to all devotees visiting the Dargah during the said festivals. It emphasized the importance of complying with the conditions outlined in the earlier 2024 order.
The conditions imposed in the June 14, 2024 order, shall be complied with strictly, the bench stated.
In 2023, the Dargah authorities had approached the High Court after various communications from government officials imposed a ban on the slaughter of animals and birds within the Vishalgad Fort premises. These communications had come from the Director of Archaeology and Museums, the Superintendent of Police, Kolhapur, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur.
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The justification provided by the authorities was based on Rule 8(c) of the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1962, which prohibits cooking and consumption of food within protected monuments. Since the process of slaughtering animals is considered a part of cooking, it was argued that it fell under this prohibition.
Additionally, the authorities had referred to a 1998 judgment by the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court which strictly banned the slaughter of animals and birds in the name of religious practice at any public place.
However, in the order dated June 14, 2024, the High Court, led by Justice Burgess Colabawalla, had set aside these communications and allowed animal sacrifices to take place during religious festivals, provided they were conducted in a private and closed area.
During the latest hearing, advocate Satish Talekar, representing the Dargah, brought to the court's attention that police officials had been restricting access to the village between 5 PM and 10 AM, which was causing inconvenience to devotees.
In response, Justice Gokhale stated, No, the conditions as imposed in the June 2024 order, will apply this year also and will have to be complied with strictly.
The court also mentioned that any other disputes related to the matter would be addressed by the regular bench after the summer vacation.
