Hindu Cow To The Slaughter
R (Swami Suryananda, representing the Community of the Many Names of God) v Welsh Ministers
CA
Weekly Law Reports Summary
23 July 2007
The decision to slaughter a Hindu community’s temple bullock as part of a general government policy after testing positive for bovine tuberculosis was lawful and justified and was not a breach of article 9 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Though the decision interfered with the community’s right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion the interference was necessary and proportionate given the importance of eliminating bovine tuberculosis and the fact that the slaughter policy implemented Council Directive 77/391/EEC.