Supreme Court stays Madras High Court’s state-wide cow slaughter ban, issues notice on Tamil Nadu government’s plea.
July 13, 2026: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Madras High Court’s order imposing a state-wide ban on the slaughter of cows and calves in Tamil Nadu. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order after the Tamil Nadu government challenged the High Court’s ruling through a Special Leave Petition. The apex court also issued notice in the matter, observing that the final direction of the High Court appeared to require “correction.”
The Tamil Nadu government argued that the High Court’s order was contradictory. While the court had correctly stated that animal slaughter should only take place at designated slaughterhouses, it also directed that no cow or calf should be slaughtered anywhere in the state on Bakrid or any other day. The state maintained that this was inconsistent with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, which permits the slaughter of cows above 10 years of age that are unfit for work or breeding, subject to official certification.
The Madras High Court had passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Hindu Makkal Katchi general secretary K. Surya Prasanth, who sought regulation of slaughter activities. However, the court extended its directions by imposing a blanket ban on cow and calf slaughter across Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court’s stay now puts the High Court’s order on hold until further hearing.