India, June 6 -- The Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with a prior judicial order that allowed animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha and urs (annual gathering) at a Sufi shrine within the Vishalgad Fort precincts in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district.

A bench of justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma said there was no urgency in hearing the matter, particularly since the Bombay high court's order imposed conditions on the religious rituals. When counsel opposing the high court's order argued that Vishalgad Fort is a protected monument under state law, the bench pointed out that religious practices are routinely observed in protected monuments across the country.

On June 4, the Bombay high court permitted animal sacrific...