The Bombay High Court is grappling with a petition that has raised concerns about the potential for a surge in similar demands from other religious communities. At the heart of the matter is a plea by a Jain trust seeking a nine-day ban on animal slaughter during their annual Paryushan Parv festival.
The court, presided over by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, is carefully considering the implications of such a prohibition. The core issue is whether granting a nine-day ban for the Jain community would inevitably lead to other communities seeking similar concessions during their own festivals, such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri.
The Jain trust, in its petition, challenges the 2024 orders by the municipal corporations of Mumbai, Nashik, and Pune, which only prohibited slaughter for a single day during Paryushan. They argue for a complete nine-day ban starting August 21, citing the Jain principle of Ahimsa, or non-violence, as the foundation for their request. The trust contends that animal slaughter during Paryushan is detrimental to the cause of Jainism.
The High Court has questioned the extent to which it can interfere, especially considering the Maharashtra government already designates 15 days a year for slaughter prohibition, including one day for Paryushan. The court is also wary of intervening in policy decisions without understanding the state's demographic composition concerning vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
The court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the municipal corporations of Nashik, Pune, and Mira Bhayandar to make a decision on the matter.
Looking back to August 2024, the Bombay High Court directed civic bodies in Maharashtra to urgently consider representations made by the Sheth Motishaw Lalbaug Jain Charities, seeking a temporary ban on animal slaughter and meat sales during Paryushan Parv. The trust requested the ban to be in effect from August 31 to September 7. The court, at that time, acknowledged the Jain community's substantial population in Maharashtra and recognized that the issue affected their religious sentiments. The court also noted the festival's significance as a period of spiritual reflection, self-purification, and adherence to non-violence.
Advocates representing the petitioners in 2024, highlighted the historical precedent for such restrictions, tracing them back to Mughal Emperors like Akbar and Nawab Walid Ali Shah of Awadh, who imposed slaughter bans for extended periods to promote tolerance.
