Swapna Kumbar, Bengaluru - The Supreme Court has stayed the Madras High Court’s order that imposed a blanket ban on cow and calf slaughter across Tamil Nadu. The move came after the Tamil Nadu government challenged the ruling, arguing that it went beyond the state’s existing animal preservation law.

The High Court’s May 27 order had directed the state to ensure that no cow or calf was slaughtered “on any other day” as well as during Bakrid, effectively creating a statewide prohibition. The government argued in the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958 does not impose a total ban and instead allows slaughter in specified circumstances. It also said the High Court had substituted judicial direction for legislation.

The Supreme Court’s stay means the High Court’s blanket prohibition will not operate for now. The issue had already drawn strong legal and public attention because the High Court had relied on constitutional and statutory provisions to justify strict enforcement. The state’s challenge now puts the legality of the blanket ban squarely before the apex court.

For the moment, cow slaughter in Tamil Nadu will continue to be governed by the existing legal framework rather than the Madras High Court’s blanket ban. The final outcome will depend on how the Supreme Court interprets the state law and the limits of judicial power in this case.