SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh high court brought to an end the age-old practice of sacrificing animals during religious ceremonies and festivals in the hill state with its order on Monday. The order prohibits sacrifices both in temples and in buildings adjoining places of worship.A division bench of HC called animal sacrifice barbaric and directed all deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and station house officers to ensure that the order is complied with.Three different people had filed petitions on the issue in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The high court disposed of all three petitions and based its order on the petition filed by Sonali Purewal in 2012.The bench in the order said startling revelations had been made on the manner in which thousands of animals were sacrificed every year in the name of religious worship. It added that sacrifice causes immense pain and suffering to innocent animals. “Compassion is basic tenets in all religions. The practice of animal sacrifice requires to be curbed,” order added.