Goats, qurbani banned in Mira Bhayandar housing societies as civic body passes resolution

The Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation has banned residents from bringing or keeping goats and conducting qurbani inside housing societies, homes, shops, and public places. This decision was made after communal tensions flared at a Mira Road housing complex due to goats being brought in for qurbani. The resolution was passed at a civic general body meeting on Tuesday, following repeated clashes over goats being brought into residential complexes near the festival.

Under the new rules, goats brought for sacrifice cannot be kept at unauthorized locations, and qurbani will only be allowed at designated places by the civic body. Permission is also required to set up temporary Bakri Eid mandaps. Violations could lead to fines and criminal action. The issue has been ongoing for two years, with residents objecting to goats being brought into common areas for the festival, leading to confrontations and heightened tensions.

Congress corporator Anil Sawant questioned the blanket nature of the restriction, arguing that societies should be allowed to make their own decisions if all members agree to goats being brought in. The move comes despite a more nuanced legal position from the Bombay High Court, which allowed slaughter only within a reasonable distance of an authorized slaughter facility or designated community space.