The Government withdraws the “Cow Hug Day” following public outcry

“Cow Hug Day” declared by the AWBI is being portrayed by the western media as an order issued by the Government of India asking its citizens to hug the cow and set aside the global Valentine’s Day celebrations. This order or notification has tarnished India’s image as the liberals, intellectuals, and secularists were handed over a weapon by the AWBI with which the Government is being mocked, trolled, and criticized. The issue is whether the AWBI is empowered to issue a notification on a controversial issue like this. Students of law are aware that there are two kinds of laws visualized in the Constitution, viz Supreme Legislation and Subordinate Legislation. Supreme Legislation is the law enacted by Parliament/State Legislatures. Since the time at the disposal of these Houses are limited and some of the legislations to be enacted in the Houses are left to be formulated by the executive branch of the government. The laws enacted by the executive branch are known by the name delegated or subordinate legislation. The Constitution has enough safeguards to check and ensure that the executive branch does not violate its brief. Any misadventure by the executive branch while enacting legislation could be nipped in the bud itself by the Supreme Court.

The Cow Hug Day notification issued by the AWBI was a misadventure and the Government was forced to withdraw the controversial order following public outcry. It has to be said that the Constitution has enough inherent provisions like judicial reviews to preserve its sanctity. This helps in preserving the pristine glory of the Constitution. The Cow Hug Day Order is not the first time the executive wing has put the Government on the wrong wicket. The Supreme Court order banning Jallikkaatu (taming of bulls) was quashed in 2017 through a notification following a stage-managed sit-in at Chennai’s Marina Beach. The crowd masquerading as animal lovers were mobilized by political parties which were aided by Tamil chauvinist. The fact that hundreds of people and bulls get killed in the Jallikattu melee every year and millions of rupees change hands during this inhuman pastime went unnoticed by the authorities. When the apex court banned the cruel sports, these animal lovers sold the bulls to slaughter house! That much for love of animals. The possibility of these babus issuing orders in the future to hug cobras, tigers, elephants, lions, and leopards could not be ruled out.