Cow should be national animal, get fundamental rights: Indian court

INDIA'S Allahabad High Court on Wednesday (1) said cows are “part and parcel” of the country’s culture and should be declared the national animal.

The court’s observation came while it denied bail to Javed, a person who has been charged with offences under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, who headed a single bench, also said the country’s government should pass a bill in the parliament to give the bovine animal fundamental rights.

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“The work of cow protection is not only of one religious sect, but cow is the culture of India and the work of saving the culture is of every citizen living in the country irrespective of religion,” the court said.

According to Bar and Bench, the court said, “Jab gaaye ka kalyaan hoga, tabhi desh ka kalyaan hoga (only if cow is revered, country will prosper).”

The court also observed that India is the only country in the world where people of different religions live and despite their diverse way of worship, “their thinking is the same for the country”.

Denying bail to the accused, the court further said: “In such a situation, when everyone takes a step forward to unite India and support its faith, then some people whose faith and belief are not at all in the interest of the country, they only weaken the country by talking like this in the country. In view of the above circumstances, prima facie offense is proved to be committed against the applicant.”

It also said that the accused was involved in similar acts in the past and if bail was granted to him, it might disturb social harmony at large.

India's national animal at the moment is tiger.