Supreme Court reserves verdict on cow vigilante groups

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday while disapproving “mob lynching” by cow vigilante groups, reserved verdict on petitions seeking ban on such groups on the ground that they were operating illegally in many parts of the country allegedly indulging and killing people in the name of protecting the cow.

A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud made it clear to the counsel “we do not want lynching. We do not want mob violence. We want victims to be protected.”

On behalf of the Centre Additional Solicitor General P.S. Narasimha made a categorical statement that it did not support any form of cow vigilantism. The CJI observed “we intend to pass a judgment on the petitions. These kinds of instances cannot occur. It is the obligation of the states to prevent the same. Hence an elaborate judgment is needed. The concept of vigilantism is not about any particular incident or motive. It is about mob violence. Members of any concerned group  cannot take law into their hands. Even is if there is no law, they are nobody.”

The CJI observed “We can deal with this under Article 142 of the constitution (to do substantive justice), the concept of compensation, monitoring of investigation are aspects that have to be looked into in the judgment.”

Senior counsel Indira Jaising, appearing for petitioners by Poonawala and others submitted that despite the apex court order directing appointment of nodal officers in each district in the States, an incident of lynching has occurred 60 km outside Delhi two weeks ago. She said directions are being flouted and such episodes are happening.   

The ASG said, “Government of India stand is clear, it is a state subject and it is for the states to deal with the issue. Union of India has no role to play.”