Calcutta HC bans mass animal sacrifice at Balurghat temple premises
The Statesman | 6 November 2025
In a landmark ruling delivered on Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court has imposed a blanket ban on mass animal sacrifice within the premises of the Bolla Kali temple in Balurghat in South Dinajpur, following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a consortium of NGOs citing cruelty against animals.
The court emphasised that any slaughter, if conducted, must take place at a designated site and directed the state government to ensure full compliance with the order. It also called for widespread public awareness to curb such practices.
The Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, specifically proscribed all forms of mass sacrifice within the sanctum sanctorum of the Bolla Kali Temple in Balurghat, South Dinajpur. The Bench instructed the state to implement the order in both letter and spirit.
Appearing for the state, Advocate General Kishore Dutta informed the court that a resolution had been reached at a meeting held on 3 November.
The meeting, attended by representatives of all concerned parties ~ including the Bolla Kali Puja Committee and departmental authorities ~ resulted in a mutual undertaking to enforce a total ban on mass animal sacrifice within the temple.
However, to preserve ritualistic traditions, the Puja Committee proposed limiting the sacrifice to two animals, to be conducted strictly at a designated site or licensed slaughterhouse.
It was further resolved that the temple authorities would initiate awareness campaigns to discourage mass animal sacrifice, in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 2001.
Speaking at a press conference at the Press Club today, Vinay K Shroff, advocate for petitioner NGO Shree Vardhman Parivar, welcomed the ruling as a symbolic victory. He noted that the court had acknowledged the reduction in the number of sacrifices to two, and mandated that these be carried out away from the temple premises. The state has been directed to ensure compliance in coordination with the local administration and civic bodies.
Mr Shroff added that NGO volunteers would be deployed to monitor the proceedings at Balurghat and submit a compliance report to the court. The matter is scheduled for further hearing in December, when the court will assess whether its directives have been upheld or flouted, as allegedly occurred in 2024.