Violence in name of cow vigilantism must stop: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said any violence in name of cow vigilantism must stop in the country.

It asked all the states to appoint a nodal officer in each district within a week to check such violence and incidents.

"If the law is in place, why can't the violence stop. Who will do it? This must stop. It is not permissible. There must be quick action. Some kind of planned action is required, " a three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said.

Hearing a petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, the court asked Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan as to why they can't nominate a single police officer in each district to ensure that vigilante groups do not take the law into their hands.

The court posed a similar query to D K Singh, Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh, who claimed only one incident took place after "this (present) government came into power".

After Mehta and Singh agreed to the suggestion, the court directed all states to appoint a nodal officer in each district for the purpose. It also asked states to nominate a police officer for highway patrol to check such violence.

"If any deviance takes place, he (officer) shall take strong action in accordance with law," the bench, also comprising Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar, said.

Arguing for the petitioner, senior Advocate Indira Raising cited a statement made by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar before the court on July 21 that the Union Government do not support any kind of vigilantism. She said the Centre cannot wash its hands off by saying law and order was a state subject.

She sought directions from the court to the Centre to exercise its obligation under Article 256 of the Constitution.

Jaising also submitted despite the statement by the law officer, incidents relating to violence under the garb of cow vigilantism continued to happen.