Governance
Stop cow vigilantism; take urgent steps to end violence: Supreme Court tells Centre
The apex court also asked chief secretaries of each state to consult DGPs to keep highways safe from cow vigilante groups
By DTE Staff
Published: Wednesday 06 September 2017
A three-judge Bench consisting of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and Amitava Roy was hearing a plea by Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, Tushar Gandhi, about the states’ and Centre’s reluctance to take responsibility despite cow vigilantes wrecking havoc and resorting to murder in the name of the cow.
The apex court also asked chief secretaries of each state to consult DGPs to keep highways safe from cow vigilante groups.
Four BJP-ruled states: Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat accepted the court's suggestion to appoint dedicated nodal police officers.
Down To Earth has been tracking how restrictions imposed on illegal slaughter houses soon took the shape of a violent movement against livestock killing with gau rakshaks engaging in rampages and lynchings leading to rise of communal tensions in the country.
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India Environment Portal Resources :
- Order of the High Court of Rajasthan to declare cow as national animal of India, 31/05/2017
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding decline in the population of indigenous breeds of cows and livestock in India, 23/05/2017
- Order of the Supreme Court of India regarding rights of animals under the Constitution of India, 12/01/2016
- Petition filed in the Supreme Court of India regarding Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act 1976, 04/08/2016
- Judgement of the Supreme Court of India regarding prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle, Gujarat, 26/10/2005
- Judgement of the Supreme Court of India regarding total ban on the slaughter of all categories of animal, of the species of bovine cattle, 23/04/1958
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