New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday remarked that it is a feature of a "flawed world" that people abandon cattle after they fulfill their economic purpose, yet take offense when someone uses them for food.
A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh made the observation while hearing a case regarding a man who died after being attacked by a bull in Punjab in 2007. While awarding the victim's widow Rs 15 lakh in compensation, the apex court expanded its focus to address the wider menace of stray animals and the public safety hazards they create on roadways.
The bench emphasized that individuals who choose to rear animals should ideally care for them throughout their natural lives. Acknowledging that many farmers and dairy owners may lack the financial resources to maintain non-productive livestock, the court observed that owners must at least ensure the animals are safely transferred to shelters rather than abandoned. It noted that while 24 states across India have enacted laws prohibiting cattle slaughter, the corresponding statutory provisions designed to protect and shelter these animals remain poorly implemented.
Highlighting the growing danger of stray cattle on public thoroughfares, the court stated that animals are not meant to act as natural speed-breakers placed randomly on national highways, roads, and streets. Citing official government data, the court highlighted that over 1,300 people have lost their lives in animal-related roadside incidents in recent years.
To tackle the crisis, the Supreme Court directed all state governments and Union Territories to strictly enforce cattle protection laws and establish clear mechanisms to compensate victims of stray cattle accidents. The bench further ordered mandatory digital tagging of livestock, public tracking of animal shelter operations, and legal accountability for owners who fail to transfer non-productive cattle to recognized shelters safely. Copies of the judgment have been forwarded to the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories for immediate implementation.
(Inputs from IANS)