Cow Vigilante Violence: SC Issues Contempt Notice To UP, Rajasthan & Haryana Govts [Read Petition]

“Chief Secretaries of the respondent states were directed to take immediate steps to prevent cases of violence related to cow vigilantism and file affidavits. The states were asked to appoint nodal officers in each district and also appoint officers for patrolling on the highways. This was to protect people from the gruesome targeted attacks and killings. Nothing has been done”,  Tushar Gandhi said in the contempt petition.

In a major development, the Supreme Court today issued notices to state governments of Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on a petition seeking contempt proceedings against them for not taking measures to prevent violent incidents in the name of cow vigilantism like lynchings despite an order of apex court on September 6, 2017.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra.  justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud issued the contempt notice on a petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi on whose petition the orders were issued in September 2017.

The replies of the states have been sought by April 3.

SC had asked all the States to take stern measures to stop violence in the name of cow protection, including appointing of senior police officers as nodal officer in every district within a week and act promptly to check cow vigilantes from behaving like they are “law unto themselves”.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising and lawyer Shadan Farasat appearing for Gandhi submitted before the bench that despite the apex court order, violent incidents were still being witnessed in various parts of UP, Rajasthan and Haryana.

“OK. We are issuing notice in this matter”, CJI Misra told Jaising and Farasat.

“The petitioner has filed this contempt petition against the states of Rajasthan and Haryana where several incidents of lynching of Muslims have occurred in the recent months of October and November 2017”, the contempt petition said.

“It must be noted that these incidents have been reported after this court by its order dated 6-09-2017 passed clear directions mandating the state governments to ensure that no incidents of cow vigilantism takes place. By this order the Chief Secretaries  of the respondent states were directed to take immediate steps to prevent cases of violence related to cow vigilantism and file affidavits. The states were asked to appoint nodal officers in each district and also appoint officers for patrolling on the highways. This was to protect people from the gruesome targeted attacks and killings”, said the petition.

“VIOLENCE MUST STOP”

Mincing no words, the bench had on September 6 said all killings and violence in the name of cow vigilantism must end and people shall not be allowed to take law into their hands.

CJI Misra had observed: "Centre says there is a law in place. Then such incidents have to be curbed.People cannot be allowed to take law into their hands. This must stop.This is not permissible".