P&H High Court Seeks Haryana Govt's Response On Petition Alleging Cow Vigilantism By Private Person Under State Law

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the  Haryana Government on a petition alleging cow vigilantism by a private individual purportedly acting under the provisions of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry were hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) and issued notice to the Haryana Government.

Counsel for the petitioner Arjun Sheoran argued that Section 16 and Section 17 of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, unlawfully delegate the "sovereign powers" of search, seizure and prosecution to "any person" authorised by the Government without prescribing qualifications, safeguards, or accountability.

Such open-ended delegation is arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21, as it enables private individuals and vigilante groups to exercise coercive state functions, threatening personal liberty and the rule of law, the petitioner submitted.

The plea added that, "The provisions have enabled a systematic rise of cow vigilantism across Haryana and elsewhere, where several self-styled gau-rakshaks or cow vigilantes have emerged and armed with the authority of law, abuse persons they find to be 'guilty' of cow smuggling or slaughter, the plea has alleged."

Case: NFIW v. State of Haryana & Ors.