Expressing concern over the mismanagement of ‘gaushalas’ or ‘cow shelters’ and stray cattle, the BJP ruled Delhi Government has proposed enacting a law. Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood made the announcement that the Government will bring a bill with penal provisions involving all stake holders to curb stray cattle in thenational Capital.
Responding to a private member resolution moved by BJP MLA Ashok Goel regarding setting up more gaushalas and proper maintenance of cow shelters, the Urban Development Minister made the announcement that the Government will bring a bill with penal provisions
involving all stake holders to curb stray cattle in the national Capital. The resolution was adopted by a voice vote in the Assembly, paving the way for the
upcoming legislation.
The Minister emphasised that the proposed legislation will include stringent enforcement mechanisms to check exploitation of cows by mafia and curb
illegal cattle trade.
This comes after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s convoy halted for nearly 15 minutes on the Haiderpur flyover in northwest Delhi on Wednesday afternoon after a group of cattle strayed on the road. The Chief Minister stepped out of her car to check on the animals.
“The legislation will incorporate suggestions from all stakeholders and Assembly members to make it foolproof. We will bring a law for cow conservation and protection after all the due deliberations. We will make sure that there is no misunderstanding between the different departments of the government and we will all study the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for the law,” Sood said.
He emphasised that the legislation would address concerns over cow welfare while also maintaining civic order by preventing stray cattle from roaming the streets. “The proposals reflect the sentiments of the House and resonate with the people of Delhi, who uphold sanatan values. Every member has engaged with this issue deeply and sensitively,” he added. “We will bring the Bill soon, keeping the sentiments of all the MLAs and people into consideration, he added.
Goel said in his resolution, that “this House resolves that new cow shelters may be constructed and ensure proper maintenance of existing cow shelters for stray animals and cows”. Earlier, BJP MLA Ashok Goel had moved a private member resolution urging the government to set up additional shelters and enhance the maintenance of existing ones. “The cow is our mother as per our culture and religious texts, but many people abandon them when they stop giving milk. This leads to issues like traffic congestion, accidents, and sanitation hazards,” Goel said.
The Model Town MLA said that according to official data, between January 1 and February 19, 2025, police received 25,393 complaints related to stray cows across the city, primarily regarding traffic disruptions and accidents.
It is a common sight in Delhi that stray cattle often sit in the middle of roads, disrupting traffic on expressways, and feeding on roadside shrubs and waste.
The threat they pose to residents increases exponentially at night, particularly in areas that are not well lit. With a drop in traffic, cattle often occupy the middle of the road, where they become a hazard for motorists. The root of the problem, however, is the issue of dozens of illegal dairies scattered throughout the city. These dairies, which did not shift to planned areas where other dairies were located, let their bovines out to scavenge from garbage dumps and roadside shrubs.
According to a plea in the Delhi High Court, between January 1, 2023, and February 19, 2025, a total of 25,593 PCR calls were made to the Delhi Police concerning the menace caused by cows on roads. These incidents represent only the surface of the problem, as many cases involve injuries caused by stray cattle.
“It is also important for the civic beauty of our city that stray animals do not roam on the streets,” the minister added. “The Government is committed to cow protection. In this regard, our Government has also made provisions in the budget for setting up new cow shelters to ensure proper care and protection of stray and rescued cattle. We will bring a strong, comprehensive Bill that effectively addresses concerns regarding welfare of cows,” Sood said while replying the private members’ resolution.
“The proposals to bring a Bill for protection of cows not only reflect the sentiments of the entire House, but also resonate with the feelings of the people of Delhi who uphold Sanatan values. Every honourable member has engaged with this issue deeply, emotionally, and sensitively,” he added. Other MLAs, including Neelam Pehalwan, Gajender Drall, and Manoj Kumar Shokeen, also shared their concerns. Shakur Basti MLA Karnail Singh called for legal action against owners who abandon their cows on the streets. Additionally, Jangpura MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah raised the issue of stray dogs and monkeys, urging the government to address frequent attacks on children
and pedestrians.
