Delhi High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking 'Cow Protection Cell' In National Capital

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a public interest litigation seeking a separate cow protection cell in every district and to stop cow slaughtering in the national capital.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad sought response of Union of India through Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi Government and Delhi Police and listed the matter for hearing on May 17.

ASG Chetan Sharma representing the Union of India submitted that it is a “genuine case.”

The plea filed by Ajay Gautam alleges that despite there being a large number of policemen, there have been “rampant incidents of cow slaughtering in Delhi.”

It has been claimed that people living in Mewat or Nuhu district in Haryana, “which is infamous for cow slaughters”, come to the national capital and kidnap stray cows from the roads or cattle farms and dairies and take them for slaughtering.

It is the petitioner’s case that whenever a person, who reveres cow as "his mother", witnesses incidents of ill-treatment and tortures to cows, “it becomes impossible for him to tolerate it and sometimes situation goes out of control.”

“That In many cases Gau Savek raid first on crime site before the police and in resulted conflict/clash reported between cow smugglers and cow saveks.. That Impounding of the vehicles transporting cow's meat is a very common occurrence. It is submitted that due to above reasons/incidents communal tension also increase and in resulted communal harmony disturb,” the plea states.

The petition submits that the Delhi Police is empowered to make special cell or unit for protection of cows to avoid conflict between cow smugglers and cow sewaka under Delhi police Act , 1978.

“Cows are the goddesses of the gods and the refuge of all auspiciousness. Cows bestow every kind of happiness and for these reason they always are worship able. Cows are the support of all the worlds for by their milk they nourish terrestrials beings and by their ghee offered in sacrifice they nourish the denziens of the celestial realms. Nothing superior to cows,” the plea states.

Title: Ajay Gautam v. UOI