The Supreme Court on Friday emphasised that States have a duty to compensate victims who are killed or injured by cow vigilantes. The statement came during the hearing of a bunch of petitions to rein-in cow vigilantes who have unleashed terror on innocent citizens in the name of protecting cows.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was categorical that it goes without saying that States have a bounded duty to protect the lives of citizens. “All States are under an obligation to compensate victims of such violent acts,” said the Bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.
One of the petitioners Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who was represented in court by senior advocate Indira Jaising, pointed out that this was not happening in reality, as some States have a compensation scheme while others don't. She referred to a recent lynching of 15-year-old Junaid Khan inside a Delhi-Mathura local train as he was returning home after shopping in the Capital where the deceased's family was yet to be paid compensation.
Jaising pointed out that even though Court had sought responses on the petition from all States, no State was giving details of investigation into incidents involving cow vigilante groups. She insisted that it was high time for the Court to step in and prepare a National scheme for compensation in such crimes.
The Bench said, “let all States come up with ideas. We will then integrate it into a National scheme and direct all States to comply with it.” Except Karnataka, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, no other State had filed responses to the petition. On the earlier date, Court even directed the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to monitor that no such incident took place either in the State or along National Highways.
The Bench reiterated, “law and order has to a primary concern of the State. Anyone found violating it should be sternly dealt with.” The Court allowed States to file their responses before the next date of hearing fixed for October 31.