The Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday banned the slaughter of goats, sheep, or buffaloes in public on the occasion of Bakrid, which will be observed on Wednesday, PTI reported. It also ordered authorities to ensure that animals are slaughtered only in abattoirs, and that their blood and offal does not flow into open drains.

“It is directed that on the day of Eid-ul-Juha [Bakrid], no animals, including goat/sheep/buffalo, shall be sacrificed in an open space, on any public street or any thoroughfare in front of any place of worship,” the court said. It had taken suo motu cognisance of the large-scale slaughter of goats and other animals during Bakrid celebrations.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath asked the police and the state administration to ensure that animals are not sacrificed in the open on Bakrid to be observed on Wednesday.

The High Court also imposed a ban on animal sacrifice at Hindu temples, saying that the order would apply to each religion. “No animal shall be sacrificed inside any temple, or in an open space or any public street or thoroughfare by the Hindus,” said the division bench of Justices Rajiv Sharma and Manoj Tiwari.

As per the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, no prohibited animals should be slaughtered on Bakrid, said the High Court. The slaughter of cows, bulls, and calves is already banned in the state under the Uttarakhand Protection of Cow Progeny Act, which provides a jail term of up to 10 years or Rs 10,000 fine, or both.

The court said municipal corporations and other rural and local bodies in the state would be responsible for cleaning up the remains of sacrificed animals.

Earlier this month, the high court had said that it would act as the legal guardian of cows in Uttarakhand. It invoked the doctrine of ‘parens patriae’ [parent of the country], which allows courts to act as guardians of those who are unable to take care of themselves.