New Delhi (Agency): The Supreme Court of India has decided not to issue an order to stop the slaughter of cows and their offspring. The Court says this decision should be made by lawmakers, not by the courts.
The Court’s decision came as they dealt with a legal challenge. The appeal asked for actions to protect and conserve endangered local livestock. The Court said the person making the appeal could take their request to the state governments.
Justices A S Oka and Sanjay Karol made this decision. They were hearing a challenge to a decision from August 2018 by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT had agreed with the shared opinion of the Central and state governments about protecting local cows. They said no more orders were needed.
The NGT made its decision on a request for several actions. These included immediate actions to protect and conserve endangered local livestock and making sure dairy cows of local breeds were not slaughtered.
The Supreme Court noted that the NGT had mentioned the National Livestock Policy from 2013. The NGT also noted that some states have their own laws against slaughtering and none of them opposed protecting local cows.
“Now, what remains is the request by the person making the appeal to stop the slaughter of cow offspring. We may observe that this is something for lawmakers to decide,” the Court said in its order from July 11. “Even in our role of reviewing laws, we cannot force lawmakers to create a specific law. Ultimately, it is for the person making the appeal to convince the lawmakers.”
After reviewing the NGT order and the information in the case, the Supreme Court said no more orders were needed.
While dealing with the appeal, the Court said the person making the appeal could take their request to protect and conserve endangered local livestock to the state governments.
The Court noted that the NGT had referred extensively to a meeting in June 2013. All stakeholders were at this meeting to discuss creating a national policy to protect local cows and livestock. The Court said that the meeting notes mentioned a rise in the cow population and the government’s policy to develop local cow breeds.
After the Supreme Court issued a notice in the case, the states gave their responses. They outlined the steps they have taken to protect local cows.
“The tribunal, after addressing the complaint of the person making the appeal, concluded that no specific order was needed. Now, what the tribunal noted is supported by the position of various state governments on the steps they have taken,” the Court said.
