Thiruparankundram Hills: SC Upholds Animal Sacrifice Ban, Limited Prayer Rights to Muslims
The apex court was hearing a plea which challenged the high court's order, claiming that it violated the fundamental right to freedom of religion
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2026-02-09 11:24 GMT
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Madras High Court order prohibiting animal sacrifice and allowing Muslim devotees limited prayer rights on the Thiruparankundram hills in Madurai.
Declining to interfere with the October 2025 order, a two-judge Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale observed that the High Court had passed a balanced order. “It seems to be a very balanced order… We do not propose to interfere with the order. Without expressing any opinion on the rights of the parties, the impugned order stands upheld,” the Bench said.
The apex court was hearing a plea challenging the High Court’s ruling on the ground that it violated the fundamental right to freedom of religion.
Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted that there had never been any law and order issue in the area. The Bench, however, remarked that the existence of peace committee meetings indicated otherwise.
Earlier, the Madras High Court had permitted prayers and religious gatherings in the Nellithoppu area during Bakrid and Ramzan, subject to the condition that they did not affect the traditional pathways associated with the Subramaniya Swamy Temple.
The High Court had also made it clear that animal sacrifice, cooking, carrying and serving of non-vegetarian food could not be permitted at the site until the competent civil court decided the issue.