HC rejects to stay beef ban in maharashtra

Mumbai: - The Bombay high court rejects petitions on Monday requesting from a ban on the slaughter of bulls and the sale of their beef for this week’s Eid-ul-Zuha, a prohibition introduced by Maharashtra’s BJP government that has become a charged issue. Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice VL Achliya a bench of division rejected the petitioners’ request that slaughter of cattle and their sacrifice form an essential part of the Muslim community’s religious practice during the festival. Muslims in the country will celebrate Eid-ul-Zuha on September 25 and the festivities will go up to three days. The court said the matter could be dealt with only after receiving a detailed affidavit from all the respondents and posted it for final hearing on October 12. India is the biggest second beef exporter in the world’s after Brazil, but the BJP and its affiliates have been pushing for a nationwide ban on the slaughter of cattle and especially cows as the animal is considered holy by many Hindus. Maharashtra extended a ban on the slaughter of cows to bulls and bullocks in March while Haryana made cow slaughter and beef sale non-bailable offences soon after. Jharkhand and Rajasthan are reportedly considering similar legislation. All these states have BJP governments.