New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to six states and sought their responses in a plea challenging certain laws that give protection to vigilante cow protection groups in the country.
A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra sought responses by 3 May.
The six states are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
The public interest litigation filed by Tehseen Poonawala in 2016 also sought the removal of content on the Internet that is used as propaganda by such groups and which is allegedly inciting citizens.
“Animal protection laws such as the Maharashtra Animal Protection Act, 1956, prohibits any legal action against persons for actions done in good faith under the law,” the petition had said.
Some states also grant the power of search-and-seize to officials under such laws.
The petition also referred to a 2011 ruling of the apex court in which the court had directed the government to disband vigilante groups.
Following violence by self-styled cow protectors or gau rakshaks, the Centre had issued an advisory in August asking state governments to ensure no such vigilante groups are allowed to take the law into their own hands “under any circumstances” in the garb of cow protection.
