Bakrid 2025: Sacrifice Dispute Lands in Legal Tangle in Madhya Pradesh Village

As Bakrid is set to be celebrated across India on June 7, a legal dispute has surfaced in Haidergarh village, Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh, over the offering of goat sacrifice — a traditional practice during the festival.

Village Sarpanch Denies Permission

The controversy began when the sarpanch (village head) of Haidergarh gram panchayat denied permission to perform the sacrifice at a specific site within the village on Bakrid. In response, a local resident approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Gwalior Bench, seeking legal approval for the sacrifice at the designated location.

Petitioner Challenges Sarpanch’s Order

In the petition, the petitioner urged the court to allow members of the Muslim community to perform Qurbani (sacrifice) on Bakrid at the proposed site within the panchayat’s jurisdiction. However, the single-judge bench of the High Court dismissed the plea, ruling that the petitioner should have first appealed to the gram panchayat before moving the court.

Court Orders SDO to Intervene

Although the court dismissed the plea, it directed the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) to resolve the petitioner’s grievance by June 6. The court emphasized that disputes of such sensitive nature should be resolved at the local level first, and only then, if unresolved, escalated to higher forums.

Local Resolution Preferred in Sensitive Matters

The court’s decision is being viewed as a significant step in encouraging resolution of religious or community-based disputes through local administrative mechanisms, rather than through direct judicial intervention. It underscores the importance of handling sensitive matters with community dialogue and administrative oversight before invoking judicial processes.

The incident highlights the broader tension between community customs and local governance. With communal sentiments often running high during religious festivals, the case underscores the need for village administrations to act with sensitivity and inclusiveness, especially when dealing with longstanding practices.