Govt will put forth views on HC ban on animal sacrifice in SC:

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today refused comments on the ban imposed by Himachal Pradesh High Court on the sacrifice of animals at places of worship and said the matter was sub-judice and the government would put forth its viewpoint in the court.
Replying to a question by BJP members Gulab Singh and Ravinder Ravi on the state government's stand on the ban, the Chief Minister told the Assembly during Question Hour that the government's reply was yet to be filed in the appeal pending in the Supreme Court.
"An appeal has been filed by Maheshwar Singh and Kullu Kardar Sangh in the Supreme Court and very shortly we will file our reply and express our viewpoint," he said.

He said there were two different thoughts on the issue of ban on animal sacrifice. "It has been a part of our hill tradition but there cannot be an order where there is ban on one community and not on others as all of us know that Muslims too sacrifice goats on 'Bakr Eid'," he said.
He said the matter regarding constitution of a trust for the privately managed Ragunath Temple in Kullu is under active consideration of the government.
Later replying to a calling attention motion of Ravi Thakur of Congress, seeking helicopters for operating sorties to snowbound tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi, the Chief Minister said the matter was being vigorously pursued with the Centre for restoration of helicopter services to the snowbound areas to evacuate people, especially the ill.

"For emergency evacuation, we requisitioned an IAF helicopter which developed technical snag on March 21, 2015 and was withdrawn by the Government of India," he said.

The state leased helicopter was also out of service and the General Administration Department (GAD) has not been able to provide service to the tribal belts.
Singh said the GAD had placed a request with the GOI on March 21 for providing a suitable substitute in view of the requirement for sorties to tribal areas.
"The Centre is yet to respond to our request and our officials are in constant touch with them," he said.