Denying bail to an individual charged for offences under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court, on Wednesday, 1 September, said that the government should bring in a bill to include protection of cows within the scope of the fundamental rights of Hindus.
Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav in his order sought for the cow to be declared India’s national animal and said:
“Keeping in mind the circumstances, the cow must be declared national animal and protection of cows must be a fundamental right of Hindus because we know when the country’s culture and faith are hurt, the country becomes weak."
The judge claimed that “scientists believe that the cow is the only animal that inhales as well as exhales oxygen.”
He also asked for strict laws for punishing those who talk about harming cows.
"Every time we forgot about our culture, foreigners attacked us and enslaved us, and if today we don’t become alert, then the example of Taliban taking over Afghanistan is in front of us," Yadav said in the order.
WHAT ELSE DID THE COURT SAY?
Claiming that a majority of Muslims in the country are also in favour of banning cow slaughter, the Court observed that India is the only country in the whole world where people of different religions live, who may worship differently but their thinking is the same for the country.
"The work of cow protection is not only of one religious sect, but cow is the culture of India and the work of saving the culture is of every citizen living in the country irrespective of religion.”Allahabad High Court
Meanwhile, the Court also expressed disappointment over the state of gau-shalas across the country.
The high court stated, "Jab gaay ka kalyaan hoga, tabhi desh ka kalyaan hoga (the country’s welfare lies in the welfare of cows)."
AND ABOUT THE BAIL PLEA?
Dubbing applicant Javed's plea for bail "baseless" and deserving to be rejected, the Court said that this wasn’t his first offence and “even before this he has committed cow slaughter, which has disturbed the harmony of the society.”
The court said that releasing Javed on bail will again “disturb’ the harmony of the society.
Javed was charged under Sections 3, 5 and 8 of the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act.
(With inputs from Bar and Bench)
(Corrigendum: An earlier version of this story quoted the order as stating that cows should be given fundamental rights. The story has been edited to reflect that the order said that protection of cows must be a fundamental right. The error is regretted.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)