Cow vigilantism: Notice to UP, Haryana and Rajasthan over contempt plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has issued notices to UP, Rajasthan and Haryana to give steps taken to tackle cow vigilantism. The SC notice on Monday followed a contempt petition filed by senior advocate Indira Jaising. The court had earlier asked seven states to take steps to create adequate mechanisms to deal with the problem.

Among other things, the court asked states to appoint senior police officers as nodal officers to act as eyes and ears of the governments to prevent vigilantism. The SC had directed chief secretaries to ensure that all steps were taken to prevent such happenings.

Appearing for Tushar Gandhi, Jaising urged the Supreme Court to initiate contempt action against the three states for failing to check lynching following cow vigilantism.


Jaising argued that such instances were still being reported from the states. A bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra immediately issued notices to the states which would have to explain through their lawyers what they have done to prevent instances of lynching.