SC Asks States to Take Strong Action Against Cow Vigilantism

SC directs state governments to appoint nodal officers to prevent cow vigilantism and asks questions of the Centre.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued strong directions to state and Union Territory governments to prevent cow vigilantism, asking them to appoint senior police officers in each district as nodal officers to take necessary actions against gau rakshaks.

The bench comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices Amitava Roy and AM Khanwilkar was hearing arguments by senior advocate Indira Jaising regarding the lack of responsibility and accountability shown by the Central and state governments. The case, brought by Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, has not yet been concluded, with the next hearing set for 22 September.

The Centre in the previous hearing had tried to argue that the spate of violent attacks by cow vigilantes across the country was a law and order problem which fell within the purview of the state governments, and was not something the Centre could get involved in. Jaising argued on Wednesday that the Centre had authority under Article 256 of the Constitution to direct the states to take necessary actions, and that it could not therefore wash its hands off the matter.

The court asked Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to get clarifications from the Centre on this argument, what instructions have been provided to various states on tackling cow vigilantism, and the steps it was planning to take from its side to prevent further violence. Mehta, who was also appearing on behalf of the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, was also told that the state governments needed to stop the violence.

Responding to Jaising’s contention that most of the incidents had taken place on highways, the Supreme Court directed the Chief Secretaries and the Director Generals of Police (DGPs) of all the States to consult with each other and present their ideas to keep highways safe from the violence.

During the proceedings, Justice Khanwilkar commented that the petitioners should also consider filing petitions relating to cases of animal slaughter in the last few days, which is likely to be a reference to the incident in Bihar on 4 September when animal carcasses were found in a canal, leading to mob violence in Madhepura.