The TVK government has approached the Supreme Court challenging a recent Madras High Court order directing the State to strictly enforce a ban on cow slaughter across Tamil Nadu by implementing a 1976 Government Order, as reported in The Hindu.
A Special Leave Petition (SLP) has been filed by the TVK government through its Secretary against the Madras High Court’s order dated 27 May 2026. The petition names as respondents K. Surya alias K. Surya Prasanth, Youth Wing Secretary of the Indu Makkal Katchi, who had filed the original writ petition before the High Court, along with senior State officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP). Advocate P.V. Yogeswaran, appearing for Surya, has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no interim order is passed without hearing his side.
The impugned order was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan on 27 May 2026. The Bench directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force (DGP/HoPF) to ensure that no cow or calf is slaughtered anywhere in Tamil Nadu, not only on the eve of Bakrid on 28 May 2026 but on any other day as well.
The High Court’s direction was based on an August 1976 Government Order issued by the State government, which prohibited the slaughter of cows and calves with the objective of protecting milk production and strengthening the rural economy.
In his judgment, Justice GR Swaminathan observed that Article 48 of the Constitution, one of the Directive Principles of State Policy, mandates that the State take steps to prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and draught cattle. Referring to the Constituent Assembly debates, the judge noted that the cow has historically been regarded as a revered animal in Indian civilisation and has been associated with the country’s cultural and religious traditions since the time of Lord Krishna.
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