Bakrid 2026: Suvendu Adhikari-Led West Bengal Government Revises Bakrid Holiday to One Day From Two, May 28 Declared Official Public Holiday
To adjust to changed festival dates, the West Bengal government declared May 28 as a public holiday for Bakrid, cancelling previous holidays on May 26 and 27. Concurrently, the Calcutta High Court upheld state restrictions limiting animal slaughter ahead of the festival, ruling it complies with welfare laws and past judicial precedents.
The West Bengal government has officially modified its state holiday calendar, declaring May 28 as a public holiday in observance of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid). The revised schedule follows verified changes in the lunar calendar, tracking the Islamic festival. In tandem with the holiday rescheduling, judicial developments unfolded as the Calcutta High Court upheld the state’s regulatory constraints on animal slaughter, reinforcing compliance with established animal welfare statutes during the upcoming festival.
Holiday Realignment and Revised Working Schedule
The administrative adjustment, finalised through an official executive order under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, shifts the festival day and completely rescinds previously announced time-off slots. "In partial modification of the aforesaid notification, the Governor is pleased to declare 28th May, 2026 (Thursday) as a public holiday on account of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid)," the state notification read. Bakrid 2026: Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind Issues Guidelines for Eid al-Adha; Urges People To Follow Law and Maintain Cleanliness.
West Bengal Govt Curtails Bakrid 2026 Holiday to One Day
BREAKING: NO TWO DAY BAKR EID HOLIDAY IN BENGAL.
BJP govt led by CM Suvendu Adhikari modifies government notification curtailing Bakr Eid holiday to just one day. pic.twitter.com/qnHA3tpKEI
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 23, 2026
Concurrently, the state administration reversed its original holiday allocations slated for earlier in the week. "Consequent upon the above, the holidays notified earlier for 26th May, 2026 (Tuesday) and 27th May, 2026 (Wednesday) on account of the Day before Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) and Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid), respectively, are hereby cancelled," the directive stated. The administration added that May 26 and 27 "will be working days for all offices, institutions and establishments to which the aforesaid notification applies".
Judicial Review of Animal Slaughter Regulations
Alongside the administrative rescheduling, the Calcutta High Court reviewed a cluster of legal challenges directed at the state's stringent pre-festival oversight guidelines. A division bench led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen formally refused to stall or interfere with the West Bengal government’s public notification regulating the slaughter of bulls, bullocks, cows, calves, and buffaloes. The underlying legal challenges were brought forward by various petitioners, including livestock traders and public representatives, who argued that the verification protocols placed an undue logistical strain on community practices. The bench observed that the contested May 13 guidelines were not arbitrary, noting that the notification had been issued in strict compliance with earlier directions passed by the court.
Legal Precedents and Compliance Enforcement
During the proceedings, the bench drew heavily upon constitutional jurisprudence regarding religious practices and state regulatory authority. In its formal order, the court noted that the Supreme Court had previously held that the sacrifice of cows is not an essential part of Id-Uz-Zuha and is not a mandatory religious practice under Islam. While declining to interfere with the notification, the court observed that the state would be within its rights to examine whether an appropriate mechanism exists for issuing the necessary certificates for animal slaughter under the provisions of the Act and Rules. Under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, animals can only be slaughtered if certified jointly by a local municipal or panchayat head and a government veterinary officer, limiting permissions to livestock that are permanently incapacitated or over 14 years of age. Bakrid 2026: TMC MP Mahua Moitra Challenges West Bengal Cattle Slaughter Curbs Ahead of Eid al-Adha.
The court additionally granted the state government a 24-hour window to review individual administrative appeals for specific religious exemptions under Section 12 of the statutory act, ensuring localised infrastructure can manage the planned distribution requirements safely.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2026 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
