The Calcutta High Court has refused to stay a notification from the West Bengal government that restricts the slaughter of bulls, bullocks, cows, calves, and buffaloes ahead of Bakr Eid, which falls on 27/28 July 2023. The court's division bench, led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, noted that the restrictions comply with prior court directives and that the Supreme Court had established that the sacrifice of cows is not essential to the Id-Uz-Zuha festival. The notification mandates that no animal can be slaughtered without a certificate confirming its fitness for the purpose. This certificate must be issued by a municipality chairman or a panchayat sabhapati, along with a government veterinary surgeon, under specific conditions. The court also emphasized the need for the state to ensure proper infrastructure and responsible officers are in place for issuing these certificates. Violations of the slaughter order could lead to significant penalties, including imprisonment. The court has given the state 24 hours to respond to exemptions sought by petitioners regarding the restrictions.