The Rajasthan high court asked the central and state governments to declare the cow as India’s national animal and ensure that slaughterers get life term imprisonment.
“It is expected from the government that it should declare cow as national animal and for this purpose the chief secretary and advocate general of the state are declared legal custodians of cow,” Justice Mahesh Chand Sharma said in a 139-page order.
He also enlisted 11 benefits of cow urine while hearing a petition on the death of more than 500 cows at a Jaipur government-run shelter. He spelled out benefits including but not limited to:
- It enhances brain and heart power
- Acts as antidote for aging
- It is equivalent to ‘Amrit’
- Mouth ulcers can also be cured
- Treatment of injuries through cow urine is popular
- It increases immunity
- Fosters calmness in humans
- Cow ghee is good to cure eye disorders
“It is believed that 33 crore gods and goddesses reside inside the cow, which is the only living being which intakes oxygen and emits oxygen,” the judge said when he retires on Wednesday.
Rajasthan high court bench specifically directed the municipal commissioners and UDH secretaries to visit all cowsheds every month. They are also required to submit a comprehensive report on the progress every quarter. “The forest department shall plant at least 5,000 plants in and around cowsheds every year”, the Court instructed the department.
Angry protests in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and other states have slammed the rule by saying “it violates India’s federal structure”.
In addition to the rising number of cow vigilant groups, the issue of banning cow slaughter has engendered unending debates across the country.
Rajasthan witnessed a tragic incident last month when Pehlu Khan, a Muslim dairy farmer was lynched by alleged cow vigilantes. Although the culprits were inflicted with heavy punishment, the issue of banning cow slaughter has still gripped the state.
This demand by HC judge is on the back of rising cow deaths at the Hingonia cow rehabilitation centre. Accidental injuries, ill-health and mismanagement by staff were prime reasons behind the untimely death of cows.
“Cow dung generates 4,500 litres of biogas,” the order says. If biogas is generated from all cow dung, the country can save 6.80 lakh tonnes of wood, he said. “Cow was important for the agricultural economy,” the court said.
