Though the Jharkhand Government is yet to come up with its official position on the Supreme Court notice issued to it and several other states on banning the cow vigilantes, inputs suggest that the move is not the option under consideration anywhere.
Indications are that the Government would clarify its position before the apex court while citing provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment and Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001. The regulation leaves scope for establishment of ‘Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ and gives such organisations the rights to search and seize animals.
The line of action can be sensed when senior Minister in the Government CP Singh justified ‘gau rakshak’ groups roaming in and around the State in the name of saving cows. “When cow slaughter is banned in the State since 2005 then formation of ‘gau raksha dal’ is obvious. Police cannot be present everywhere and every time. Safeguarding cows cannot be left entirely to the police,” the Minister told The Pioneer when contacted on Friday to know about the stand of the Government in the light of the apex court notice.
The court had on April 7 hearing a petition seeking ban over cow vigilante groups asked Jharkhand besides, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and also the Centre for their responses to be filed by May 3. The notice came on a plea filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawalla in the light of Alwar incident, saying that there has been a spurt in instances of cow vigilantism in country and sought ban on these groups.
Jharkhand has also registered few cases of that nature, including the one having taken place at Balumath in latehar district in March last year when two cattle traders, one a teenager, were lynched and then hanged from a tree branch for allegedly smuggling bovines.
However, the Minister maintained that the vigilantes were not allowed to take law into their own hands. “Their role is well understood. In case the members of the group come to know about any illegal trade of cow, they have to inform the police and not indulge into beating anyone. lynching anyone cannot be justified and is not allowed under the law. Everyone has condemned the Alwar incident,” said the Minister.
There are number of ‘Gau rakshak’ groups registered with the State Government under the Society Registration Act and also as not-for-profit companies. This apart, several self-styled groups have also mushroomed claiming to be working for cow protection.
When contacted for official position, Home Secretary SKG Rahate accepted having knowledge about the notice. “Yes the notice is there. But it is not Jharkhand specific. I am on leave at present and can officially tell about the position only on Monday,” said he.
However, it is learnt that the State Government in its response to the Supreme Court notice would apprise about steps it has taken over the Balumath incident besides, clarifying the legal position on allowing such organisations to function.
“We had arrested five persons for killing two cattle traders. The matter is sub-judice since we have filed a counter affidavit in the High Court. Adequate measures have been taken to rehabilitate the affected families,” said latehar SP Anup Birthray.