Allahabad HC raises concern over misuse of anti-cow slaughter law in Uttar Pradesh

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court has raised concerns over the misuse of the anti-cow slaughter law in Uttar Pradesh to “target innocent people” and the lack of forensic evidence to prove that the recovered meat is beef. Granting bail to one Rahmuddin who was allegedly involved in cow slaughter, Justice Sidharth in his order said the misuse of the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955, has been leading to innocent persons languishing in jail. “The Act is being misused against innocent persons. Whenever any meat is recovered, it is normally shown as cow meat (beef) without getting it examined or analyzed by the forensic laboratory. In most of the cases, meat is not sent for analysis. Accused persons continue to remain in jail for an offence that may not have been committed at all,” the High Court order said. In the order passed on 19 October but made available days later, the high court also observed that there is need to take care of older non-milking cows which are abandoned by owners, if the law against the slaughter of cows is to be implemented in letter and spirit. “Goshalas do not accept non-milking cows or old cows and they are left to wander on the roads. In rural areas cattle owners who are unable to feed their livestock, abandon them. They cannot be transported outside the state for fear of locals and police. There are no pastures now. Thus, these animals wander here and there destroying the crops. “Whether cows are on roads or on fields their abandonment adversely affects the society in a big way. Some way out has to be found out to keep them either in cow shelters or with the owners, if UP Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act is to be implemented in letter and spirit,” the order said. Rahmuddin, the petitioner in this case, had said there were no specific allegations against him in the FIR and he was not arrested from the place of the incident. Further, no exercise was done by police to check whether the meat recovered was cow meat or not.