Delhi High Court dismisses PIL for law banning cow slaughter, beef sale

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking enactment of a law prohibiting slaughter of cows and sale of beef and such products across the national capital region, terming it as "misconceived".

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath declined to entertain the plea after the AAP government informed the court that there is already 'Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act' to protect cattle.

Additional Standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose, appearing for the state government, further contented that the petition was a publicity stunt and should be dismissed with exemplary cost.

He further informed the court that under the Act, "no person shall transport or offer for transport or cause to be transported agricultural cattle from any place within Delhi to any place outside Delhi, for the purpose of its slaughter, knowing that it is likely to be slaughtered."

Ghose further said that Delhi government had five shelter homes with capacity of 23,000, however, today the strength of these cattle is around 10,000.

"If the petitioner has any such cattle, he can send them to us," the counsel said.

Taking note of the submissions of Delhi government's counsel, the bench said, "The writ petition is misconceived and same is dismissed."

During the brief hearing, the bench also observed that it cannot issue any direction for enactment of law and it is for the state and Central government to take the decision.

"Let them take the decision of the issue. We are not inclined to entertain the same," the court said.

The petition, filed by Swami Satyananda Chakradhari, who claimed to be a monk, has sought directions to the state government to enact a law similar to the 1932 Ranbir Penal Code, applicable in Jammu and Kashmir, which states that slaughter of cows and "like animals" was punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment as well as a financial penalty.

The plea, filed through advocate Nawal Kishore Jha, has also sought directions to the state government to set up a "Gokul Gram" where old cows, bulls and bullocks can be rehabilitated.