Calcutta High Court asks Bengal government to decide on exemption in animal slaughter rules for Eid ul-Adha

Key points

• The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (May 21, 2026) directed the West Bengal government to take a decision as per Section 12 of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, regarding the exemption prayed for in view of Eid al-Adha.
• A division Bench presided by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul directed that, considering the fact that the festival may take place on May 27 or 28, the State shall take a decision in this regard within 24 hours from the date of communication of this order.
• "We are inclined to direct that the State shall take a decision in the teeth of Section 12 of the Act of 1950 regarding the exemption prayed for by certain petitioners," the court directed.
• The petitioners sought an exemption under Section 12 of the Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, for performing the religious rituals during the festival.
• Senior lawyer Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, appearing for...