Jaipur, May 31: The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday recommended the Center to declare cow as national animal. The court also recommended life term for killing cow instead of three years under the Bovine Act.
In view of Higonia Gaushala deaths, the forest department has also been ordered to put 5,000 plants in cowshed every year. The court has ordered the Additional Director General (ACB) to prepare report every three months on cowshed. It has also directed the Urban Development and Housing department Secretary and municipal commissioner to visit cowshed once every month.
In August last year, the Rajasthan government had said 8,122 cows have died at Asia's “best” Hingonia Gaushala between January 1 and July 31 this year due to ill-health and accidental injuries. On an average, 1,053 cows die every month at this very centre, while over 500 have perished in last 10 days, the Tribune reported.
Following the government's ban on cattle slaughter and restrictions on the sale of cattle, the Janata Dal (United) has appealed to the Centre to declare cow as the “national animal”. Senior JD (U) leader Neeraj Kumar said, “I appeal to the Centre that if they have so much love for cows then they should declare cow as the national animal.”
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan had said that the ministry has notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 to ensure that the sale of cattle is not meant for slaughter purposes. “Aim of the rules is very specific. It is only to regulate the animal market and the sale of cattle in these markets, and ensuring welfare of cattle dealt in market. And the rule provides for a strict animal monitoring committee and an animal market committee at the local level,” Vardhan said.
As per the notification, cattle are defined as “bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers and calves and camels”.
Comments
Add new comment