The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the recent incidents of cow vigilantism and issued notices to the Centre and seven states, of which six are ruled by the BJP.
The development comes in the backdrop of the brutal violence against a Muslim man in Alwar, Rajasthan, by alleged ‘gau rakshaks’ on suspicions of cow smuggling on Saturday. The 55-year-old man succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Monday. Taking cognisance of the incident, the top court has directed the state government to respond on the incident within three weeks’ time.
The states that the SC has issued notices to include Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. While six of the states asked to respond are ruled by the BJP, the Congress is in power Karnataka.
The apex court issued these notices on a plea seeking a ban on ‘gau rakshak’ groups who often attack people of other religions. The petition was filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawalla who called for cow protection groups to be declared illegal.
The apex court has given time till May 3 to the Centre and states to respond which is when it will hear the case next.
