Hyderabad HC Directs Telugu States To Make Killing Cows A Non-Bailable Offence:- Both the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra have been directed by the Hyderabad High Court to amend penal laws for killing or maiming cattle, including cows, to make them non-bailable offences.

The judgment was delivered by Justice B Siva Sankara Rao, who further dismissed a petition filed by Ramavath Hanuma of Nalgonda.

According to reports, for slaughtering and to distribute the meat on the occasion of Bakrid, the cows and bulls were kept by the petitioner and several others. From the farmers, the cows and bulls were brought. The police however seized the cattle. The case has been registered under Sections 5, 6 and 10 of Prohibition of Cows Slaughter and Animal Preservation Act II of 1977 and 11 (1)(b) of Prohibition of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The petitioner sought their custody back, when the local court ordered the cattle be handed over to Gowshala. The trial court in Nalgonda however dismissed the case.

A criminal revision plea before the HC was filed by the petitioner. Justice Siva Sankara Rao was quoted saying, “To the majority of population, cow is a substitute for mother who, in turn, is a substitute for god, in this country, Bharat. A special sanctity is to be acquired by the cow and is called “Aghnya” (not to be slain). Thus, cow is a sacred national wealth and no one can sell or kill it for slaughter.”

The justice quoted a Supreme Court order and said on the occasion of Bakrid, there is no fundamental right of a Muslim to insist on slaughter of healthy cows. Furthermore, Justice Siva Sankara Rao directed both the AP and the Telangana  governments to take steps to amend Section 429 of the IPC to make the offence non-bailable.

Also, to make it on par with Section 429 IPC, the Sections 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 should enhance the punishment, added Mr. Rao.

The Justice dismissing Hanuma’s plea quoted as saying, “When he was allegedly taking them to a slaughter house, whether a person is entitled to claim interim custody of cows and bulls seized from him”? In view of the national importance of cows which are substitutes to mother and god, this question needs to be posed and answered.

Meanwhile, the case is scheduled for its hearing on July 7.

SUPRAJA