States must curb cow vigilantism, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a serious view of mob lynchings by cow vigilante groups. The court, while reserving the verdict on petitions seeking ban on such groups, put the onus on the states to check such incidents. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud made it clear to the counsel, “We do not want lynching. We do not want mob violence. We want victims to be protected.”On behalf of the Centre, additional solicitor general P.S. Narasimha made a categorical statement that it did not support any form of “cow vigilantism”. 

The CJI observed, “We intend to pass a judgement on the petitions. These kinds of instances cannot occur. It is the obligation of the states to prevent the same. Members of any concerned group cannot take law into their hands. Even is if there is no law, they are nobody.” The CJI observed, “We can deal with this under Article 142 of the Constitution (to do substantive justice), the concept of compensation, monitoring of investigation are aspects that have to be looked into in the judgment.” 

Senior counsel Indira Jaising, appearing for petitioners submitted that despite the apex court order directing appointment of nodal officers in each district in the states, an incident of lynching has occurred 60 km outside Delhi two weeks ago. She said directions are being flouted and such episodes are happening.    To this, the Supreme Court bench said “nobody can take law into their hands. The issue is how it can be prevented. States are under obligation to prevent any such incidents”.