Cow Vigilantism : SC Issues Contempt Notice to 3 States
New Delhi : The Supreme Court issued contempt notice to Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for failure to prevent incidents of cow vigilantism despite a standing order an year ago.
The notice asks States to respond on the topic by April 3.
The order follows a petition by Tushar Gandhi who has pursued the issue relentlessly.
Last September, Tushar petitioned the apex court seeking states to toe with law and order by preventing violence by cow vigilantes.
he court issued an order in context and asked to depute nodal officers on highway patrol, the progress of which would be informed to SC periodically, it said.
The backdrop
In July last year, four Dalit men were stripped, tied to a car and flogged in Gujarat. In Alwar, a 55-year-old dairy owner Pehlu Khan was kicked to death on suspicions of cattle smuggling. The brutal assault drew nationwide outrage.
After a spate of similar assaults, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out with a message condemning cow vigilantism “I have seen some people who indulge in crimes at night and wear gau rakshaks garb by day” he said.
