Tamil Nadu Today: Supreme Court stays order banning cow slaughter in State
The Supreme Court of India has stayed a Madras High Court order that sought to enforce a total ban on cow slaughter in Tamil Nadu. The state government challenged the ruling, citing existing legislation that permits the slaughter of older cows under specific conditions.
Why it matters
This ruling clarifies the legal boundaries between state-level animal preservation laws and judicial mandates, impacting agricultural and religious policy in India.
The Supreme Court today (July 13, 2026) stayed a May 27 order of the Madras High Court directing the Tamil Nadu government to enforce a State-wide prohibition on the slaughter of cows and calves .
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a special leave petition filed by the State government challenging the High Court’s order on the ground that the direction was contrary to the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, which permits the slaughter of cows over 10 years of age if a competent authority declares them unfit for work and breeding.
The Tamil Nadu Government has appointed Layola Mani as the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation. He is the deputy secretary of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)’s propaganda wing. He will hold the post for three years from the date of his appointment.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in