Cow vigilantism, mob lynching 'wrath of law': Supreme Court asks states, UTs to comply with its verdict

The Supreme Court on Monday asked all states and Union Territories to comply with its directions on curbing incident of cow vigilantism and mob lynching and file their compliance affidavits before it within one week, warning that such acts would invite the "wrath of law".  

Eight states, including Mizoram, Telangana, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi, were yet to file reports indicating their compliance of its July 17 verdict giving a slew of directions to deal with mob violence and cow vigilantism. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra took the matter seriously, saying "people must realise that mob violence and taking of law into the hands will invite the wrath of law". 

The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, said: "People should realise the gravity of the act. They should realise the effect on law and order situation.

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Earlier in 2017, the apex court had directed the states and the Centre to take stringent action to curb the incidents of lynching on the name cow vigilantism.  “Who will stop them? Some mechanism has to be there to prevent violence indulged in by these groups. This must stop. Some kind of planned and well-coordinated action is required by the governments so that vigilantism does not grow,” the Supreme Court had said.

The bench also considered the submission of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Rajasthan Government, that a reply to the show cause notice has been filed by the state government into the death of Rakbar Khan in a case of alleged mob lynching.Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala, in his plea, had said 28-year-old dairy farmer Rakbar Khan was attacked by a group of cow vigilantes in Lalwandi village of Ramgarh district in Rajasthan on July 20, three days after the apex court had delivered a detailed verdict.The court had then taken note of the plea seeking contempt action against officials of the Rajashtan government officials, including the Chief Secretary and the police chief, for alleged violation of the top court's verdict in the lynching case.

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In the past four years, the incidents of violence and lynching in the name of cow vigilantism have increased many folds across the country. In July this year, a cattle-trader was allegedly lynched in the name of cow vigilantism by the mob in Hapur’s Pilakhuwa.The family of 45-year-old Qasim, who was killed by the mob, alleged that he was attacked for ferrying cows. The police, however, claimed that it was road rage incident. 

(With PTI inputs)