The Calcutta High Court (CHC) has stepped in to regulate the long-standing practice of animal sacrifice at the Bolla Kali Temple in South Dinajpur district, ordering strict limitations and oversight on the annual ritual.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujay Pal and Justice Parthasarathi Sen granted the temple trust permission for two goat sacrifices only, provided they are conducted in a designated enclosed area and not in public view.

The court emphasised that the custom of animal sacrifice will not be condoned under the guise of religious freedom unless it is shown to be an “essential religious practice”. It held that simply because a ritual has historical roots does not automatically place it under the protection of Article 25 of the Constitution.

The court also urged the temple trust and the local administration to engage in public awareness campaigns aimed at phasing out animal sacrifice altogether. The bench observed that judicial direction alone is insufficient and that the administration and community must take proactive steps.

According to the petition filed earlier, the ritual in previous years involved “close to ten thousand” goats sacrificed each year following Ras Purnima. The petition contended that such large-scale animal sacrifice could no longer be justified as an essential religious practice under the law.

The temple defence cited Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which permits sacrifices for religious purposes, but the court made clear that this statutory permission does not override constitutional requirements regarding religious practice and cruelty.

The ruling is seen as a moderate step—permitting the ritual in a limited form rather than outlawing it entirely—but also as a clear message that traditional practices must align with modern legal and ethical standards.

What this means:

The temple may conduct no more than two goat sacrifices, and must ensure they are done inside a cordoned-off area, away from public visibility.

The local administration and temple trust are tasked with sensitising devotees and gradually phasing out the practice of animal sacrifice.

The court’s ruling stresses that religious customs are subject to constitutional scrutiny; not every tradition qualifies as “essential” under Article 25.