Bombay HC to govt: How will you stop gau rakshaks?

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday asked the state government to file an affidavit saying what preventive steps it will take to stop cow vigilantes in the state ahead of Bakri-Id. The court also clarified that it will not frame rule or any guidelines to stop cow vigilantes, as it is the work of the legislature.

A division bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and M.S. Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation filed by city resident Shadaab Patel, expressing fear that cow vigilante groups may stir up trouble during Id. The petition sought a direction to the state to take effective steps to protect citizens, especially those who deal in cattle or transport cattle, from lynch mobs. Petitioner’s lawyer Waris Pathan told the court that there have been incidents throughout the state in which cow vigilantes have beaten up persons transporting cattle. Mr Pathan expressed his apprehension of more cow vigilante attacks because of Bakri Id, which will be celebrated on September 2.

“Maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the state. We clarify that we will not frame any guidelines or rules on how the issue needs to be handled. It is the work of legislature. We only want law and order to be maintained. So tell us what preventive steps will you take,” Justice Gavai said.

Additional public prosecutor Jayesh Yagnik informed the court that in Mumbai, there are five-registered ‘Gau Rakshak’ (cow vigilantes) sansthas. “The city police has details of these five sansthas,” he said. Mr Yagnik said there exists a 24-hour helpline service the city police has set up, which can be contacted if there are any untoward incidents.

Several persons, including petitioner Patel’s father, sought to intervene in the matter claiming that the PIL was “malafide and was merely a political and publicity stunt” and should hence be dismissed.

The court said it would hear the matter further on August 23.