An idol of Goddess Kali at Biragobindapur temple in Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Cuttack, Oct. 3: Traditional practice of animal sacrifice at the Kali temple of Biragobindapur in Puri district is back in focus. While fresh concern was raised and judicial intervention sought against the ongoing practice of animal sacrifice at the temple during Kali Puja, Orissa High Court has left it for the district administration to take appropriate steps.

Pipili-based India Media Centre (IMC) had raised the fresh concern through a PIL. Concern was raised for third consecutive year before the high court over the ongoing practice of animal sacrifice at the Kali temple.

The temple had hit headlines in 2007 when more than 1,200 goats were offered as sacrifice reportedly in the presence of local administration, local MLA, MPs and others. Campaigns by animal rights groups failed to stop the gruesome slaughtering of 500 odd goats in 2008.

Maneka Gandhi’s animal rights group — People for Animals (PFA) — had raised concern over the ongoing practice of “merciless killing of animals” at the temple and filed a writ petition in 2009.

Responding to it the high court had directed the state government to take steps to stop the practice at the temple.

IMC filed a petition in 2010 alleging violation of court order and sought intervention against animal sacrifice at the Kali temple. Two days before the Kali Puja the high court expressed disinclination to give a verdict on it till the state government clarifies its position and makes clear its stand on the sensitive issue.

IMC had again turned to the high court last week and alleged in the PIL “last year more than 2,000 goats were sacrificed at the temple”.

“During Kali Puja, police and district administration watched as massive number of animals were brutally killed. It is unfortunate that they remained silent spectators,” said IMC’s managing trustee and director, Akhanda, 31.

“Preparation for sacrifice of a large number of animals at the Dakhinakali at Biragobindapur during the Kali Puja is going on,” the petition further alleged, while seeking direction of the high court to the state government “to take immediate and necessary steps to stop it”.

“Responding to it the two judge bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and justice B.N. Mohapatra has directed the collector of Puri to take appropriate steps,” petitioner counsel Nishikanta Mishra told The Telegraph. The Court issued the direction on September 28.

Incidentally, Orissa High Court had on October 28, 2005, directed the district collectors to assume a proactive role to prevent animal sacrifices in the state’s shrines and temples. The high court had issued the order on the eve of Kali Puja in response to a PIL seeking ban on animal sacrifices in the state.

The high court had made it clear in the order that it expected the district collectors not to restrict their role to merely issuing appeals but to play a more active role as killing of animals is not allowed under law. Animal sacrifice is not permissible as per the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Act, 1960, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as well as Pollution Act.