A Bill to lift the ban on animal and bird sacrifices in temples in Tamil Nadu was introduced in the state assembly on Friday.
Introducing the bill, State Animal Husbandry Minister PV Damodharan said the Government had decided to repeal the 54-year-old Animals and Bird Sacrifices Act following the representations from the public to continue the animal and bird sacrifices in temples.
An ordinance was promulgated to lift the ban on February last and the present Bill sought to replace it, he said.
Though the Act was passed in 1950, the practice of animal and bird sacrifices continued till last year, when the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa instructed the officials to implement the Act strictly.
Many political parties opposed the implementation of the Act and protests were held in several parts of the state, particularly in the southern districts.
The AIADMK Government decided to repeal the Act after the party's rout in the Lok Sabha polls.