Supreme Court Stays Tamil Nadu Blanket Cow Slaughter Ban

The Supreme Court of India stayed a Madras High Court order on July 13, 2026, that had imposed a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves throughout Tamil Nadu. The stay follows a Special Leave Petition filed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, led by Chief Minister Thalapathy Vijay and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, which argued that the lower court's directive amounted to judicial lawmaking.

The Madras High Court originally issued the ban on May 27 following a public interest litigation by K. Surya Prasanth of the Hindu Makkal Katchi. Prasanth had alleged that authorities improperly permitted ritual sacrifices in temporary sheds in Coimbatore rather than designated slaughterhouses ahead of Bakrid. The High Court justified the statewide prohibition by citing Article 48 of the Constitution and a 1976 government order.

In its appeal, the Tamil Nadu government contended that the blanket ban contradicted the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act of 1958, which allows the slaughter of cattle over 10 years old if certified unfit for work or breeding. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that the High Court's order prima facie required correction and issued the stay.

On the same day, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a separate public interest litigation seeking to compel the central government and states to enforce anti-cow slaughter laws. Justice Sandeep Mehta dismissed the plea as withdrawn, suggesting the petitioner file a contempt petition if specific court orders were being violated.