The Supreme Court on Friday expressed doubts on whether it could prevent illegal transportation of cattle to Bangladesh when illegal Bangladeshi migrants entering India continues unabated.
The issue of cross-border illegal smuggling of cattle came to court in a PIl filed by NGO Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh. The petitioner, represented by former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee expressed concern on the lack of regulations under the existing law to prevent mass-scale transportation of cattle across Indo-Bangla border to cater to the beef demand in the neighbouring country.
“We can’t stop outsiders from coming into the country and you are talking about cattle,” remarked a bench of Justices JS Khehar and SA Bobde. Sorabjee informed the court that strict surveillance by Border Security Force (BSF) could be one way to prevent cattle smuggling.
The court failed to see reason in the suggestion. “We can’t deploy enough people to stop infiltration of terrorists, how do we deploy for cattle,” the bench said, adding that if BSF is engaged in watching cattle, “how will they stop terrorists.”
While legal export of cattle under a licence is permitted, the Court asked Sorabjee to produce material to suggest that illegal export of cows or cattle was prohibited or regulated. The petition stated that on account of cattle smuggling, there was a decline in indigenous breeds of cattle, that needs immediate remedy.
Sorabjee pointed out that the issue of illegal transportation of cattle was under scrutiny of Court in another PIl which focused on smuggling of cattle to Nepal for slaughter. The bench agreed to list the petition along with the pending PIl. The Court informed Sorabjee that it could recommend Centre to incorporate the suggestions given in the present petition as part of Guidelines on Transporting Cattle being prepared by the Government.