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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice in a PIL filed by Social Activist Adv. Ajay Gautam seeking direction to take appropriate steps to stop cow smuggling/cow slaughtering in accordance with Delhi Police Act, 1978, and as per entry 17 of List II under the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India.

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

Petitioner stated in the petition that the present writ of Mandamus has been filed for “interest and welfare of Holy Cows who the people of India pray and revere as Mother.”

The plea 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 diaries and take them for slaughtering.

“That in many cases Gau Savek raided first on crime site before the police and it resulted in conflict/clash reported between cow smugglers and cow sevaks. That Impounding of the vehicles transporting cow meat is a very common occurrence. It is submitted that due to above reasons/incidents communal tension also increases and results in communal harmony disturbance,” the plea states.

The petitioner has claimed that a representation to the Commissioner of Police and Ministry of Home Affairs has already been given by him on 13.04.2022 requesting them to provide at least one Special Desk for safety of cows in every district of Delhi in order to stop the smuggling of cows.

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

“That Holy Cows are the mothers of all creatures. Cows are verily the mothers of the 33 Koti of demigods that administer creation in material existence throughout the universes. Cows are the goddesses of the gods and the refuge of all auspiciousness. Cows bestow every kind of happiness and for these reasons they always are worshippable. Cows are the support of all the worlds for by their milk they nourish terrestrial beings and by their ghee offered in sacrifice they nourish the denizens of the celestial realms. Nothing is superior to cows,” the plea states.

Title: Ajay Gautam vs. UOI