Rejecting the state’s line of argumentation that animal sacrifice was part of the traditional Tantrik method of worship in the Hindu religion, the Tripura High Court has banned the practice from all temples in the state, reports Live Law.

The bench reasoned that even animals have a fundamental right to life as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. Animal sacrifice in Tripura commonly takes place at the Mata Tripureswari Devi Temple and the Chatur das Devata Temple, with a goat being sacrificed daily at the former which is under management of the district administration.

The general public also sacrifices a large number of birds and animals at these temples. The court has ruled that animal sacrifice cannot be said to be an essential part of religion.

The government side had also contended that in this matter only the Hindu practice of sacrifice was being challenged, while the Muslim practice of sacrificing animals on Bakr-Eid was being ignored. The court rejected this contention saying that the matter of Muslim sacrifice had already been settled by the Supreme Court in a previous case.

The matter came for adjudication before the bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Arindam Lodh after a PIL was filed in the high court by a retired judicial officer Subhas Bhattacharjee. The PIL maintained that the practice of animal sacrifice is simply a superstition.