By News Desk 
Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, will be celebrated across India on June 7. However, a legal dispute has emerged in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior after a petitioner approached the High Court over not being granted permission for animal sacrifice on the occasion. The matter has sparked local controversy, prompting the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to issue a significant ruling.
Dispute Originated from Haidergarh Village in Vidisha District
The issue stems from Haidergarh, a village under the Vidisha district, where the local Panchayat Sarpanch denied permission for carrying out animal sacrifice at a designated location during Bakrid. In response, the petitioner filed a plea directly in the High Court, seeking approval to perform the sacrifice at the specified site within the Panchayat jurisdiction.
High Court: Petitioner Cannot Approach Court Directly
The single-judge bench of the High Court dismissed the petition, stating that the petitioner had no right to bypass the established legal process and approach the High Court directly. The court emphasized that any challenge to a Panchayat decision must first follow the appeal procedures laid out under the Panchayat Act. It further observed that as long as statutory remedies are available at a subordinate level, the High Court should not be the first point of recourse.
Court Directs SDO to Address Complaint by June 6
In a move to resolve the issue at the local level, the High Court directed the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) concerned to consider and address the petitioner’s grievance by June 6. This directive is being seen as a crucial step to prevent escalation of tensions at the village level and to encourage resolution of sensitive matters through local administrative channels.
The court’s ruling reinforces the importance of exhausting lower-level remedies before invoking higher judicial intervention, particularly in socially sensitive situations like religious observances.