Supreme Court agrees to examine Gau Rakshaks issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that self-styled Gau Rakshaks anger him

New Delhi, Oct 21: The Supreme Court on Friday said that it would examine a petition relating to the issue of Cow Vigilantism across the country.

A petition had been filed in the Supreme Court against the Gau Rakshaks in the light of the recent incidents of violence. In the petition it was contended that the violence committed by Gau Rakshaks had reached such proportions that even Prime Minister had recently declared them as people destroying the society.

It was alleged that these groups were committing atrocities against Dalits and minorities in the name of protecting cows and other bovines and they needed to be "regulated and banned in the interest of social harmony, public morality and law and order in the country".

"The menace caused by the so-called cow protection groups is spreading to every nook and corner of the country and is creating disharmony among various communities and castes," the petition said.

The petition sought a direction to remove the alleged "violent content" uploaded on social media and hosted by the cow protection groups.

The plea sought to declare as "unconstitutional" section 12 of the Gujarat Animal Prevention Act, 1954, Section 13 of Maharashtra Animal Prevention Act, 1976, and Section 15 of Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964, which provide for protection of persons acting in good faith under the Act or rules.

"These laws and the protection granted therewith act as a catalyst to violence perpetrated by these vigilante groups," the petition also said.

OneIndia News