Uttarakhand HC Allows Goat Sacrifice At Slaughterhouse In Nainital During Nanda Devi Festival

The Uttarakhand High Court has permitted animal sacrifice linked to the Nanda Devi festival to be performed at an abattoir near the Naina Devi temple in Nainital, The Indian Express reported.

The order came on a petition seeking a temporary facility for the ritual, citing the festival’s cultural and religious importance in Uttarakhand's Kumaon region.

The petition was filed by Pawan Jatav, who said that the people of Nainital and adjoining areas have deep religious faith associated with these sacrificial rituals, and they believe that the offering symbolises devotion and fulfilment of vows made to the goddess.

He urged that a slaughterhouse be temporarily arranged so goats could be sacrificed after puja at the temple.

Animal sacrifice on the temple premises was banned by the court in 2011 due to hygiene concerns, and the order was reiterated in 2016, the IE reported.

Jatav told the court that devotees have been following the ban but his earlier request to the district administration for an alternative site had received no response.

The counsel for the municipality submitted that the slaughterhouse’s effluent treatment plant was functional and the Pollution Control Board had been informed.

The court directed the Pollution Control Board officer to inspect the site and after inspection, permit the activities to be resumed.

“An interim order of this nature is passed in view of the fact that the festival is commencing today, and the learned Chief Standing Counsel for the State submits that if this offering to the deity is prevented, it may lead to law and order issues,” the court said, directing the municipality to ensure compliance.

According to the IE report, a municipal officer said the slaughterhouse had earlier faced shortcomings in securing approvals, but these had been resolved and a no-objection certificate had been issued for opening it for the next five days.

He added that the facility would remain operational beyond the five-day festival period.

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