Deonar Abattoir to Close on September 4 and 7 for Jain Festival: Bombay High Court Directive

In response to a directive from the Bombay High Court, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that the Deonar abattoir in Mumbai will be closed on September 4 and 7 this year. This decision is aimed at accommodating the Jain community’s observance of 'Paryushan Parv,' an important religious festival that emphasizes 'ahimsa' or non-violence.

BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani issued the order, detailing the closure. "After taking into consideration various aspects of this issue, I have come to the conclusion that BMC will announce one day closure to slaughter during Paryushan Parva i.e. Bhadarva Sud Ekam, every year, which falls on September 4 this year," the order states. “Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the days on which Deonar Abattoir is kept closed as per a 2015 decision. As it incidentally falls on the same day as Paryushan Parv, the abattoir will remain close on September 7 as well.”

In addition to the specific dates for this year, Gagrani also directed the relevant department to review and ensure that the total number of closure days for the abattoir does not exceed 15 days annually.

The Bombay High Court's decision follows a petition filed by the Sheth Motishaw Lalbaug Jain Charities, which requested a temporary ban on animal slaughter and the sale of meat during the Paryushan Parv period from August 31 to September 7. The trust argued that allowing animal slaughter during this time would be contrary to the principles of Jainism.

A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar reviewed the plea and determined that there was no obstacle to directing the civic bodies to consider the trust’s request. "We accordingly direct the authorities to decide the representation of the petitioner seeking to impose a temporary ban on the slaughtering of animals and sale of meat during (from) August 31 to September 7. We urge the civic bodies to take a decision urgently since the festival commences from August 31," the court said.

The BMC's action reflects a broader effort to balance community needs with regulatory requirements, and it underscores the civic body's responsiveness to significant cultural and religious observances.