Cow vigilantism: SC issues notice to Haryana, U.P. and Rajasthan

Cow vigilantism: SC issues notice to Haryana, U.P. and Rajasthan

Context

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the governments of Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to respond to a plea seeking contempt action against the States for not complying with the court’s order to take stern steps against cow vigilantism

What

A Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, acting on a contempt petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, asked the States to respond by April 3.

Stern measures asked by SC

On September 6 last year, the apex court had asked all the States to take stern measures to stop violence in the name of cow protection, including

Senior police officers as nodal officers

Appointing of senior police officers as nodal officer in every district within a week and acting promptly to check cow vigilantes from behaving like they are “law unto themselves.”

The senior police officer shall take prompt action and ensure that vigilante groups and such people are prosecuted with quite promptitude

Dedicated Task Force

Observing that such acts of violence “must stop,” it had directed the States to form a dedicated task force in each district.

Status report by Chief Secretaries

It had asked their chief secretaries to file status report giving details of actions taken by them to prevent incidents of cow vigilantism.

Highway Patrolling

SC had directed the States to ensure highway patrolling after it was pointed out that such incidents mostly took place there on the pretext that vehicles were carrying beef.

Article 256

The court had further asked the Centre to respond to the submission that it could issue directions under Article 256 (obligation of States and Union) of the Constitution to all State governments on issues related to law and order.

Planned Action needed

SC had said that “some kind of planned action is required so that vigilantism does not grow” and efforts have to be made to stop such acts