NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed all state governments to appoint a senior police officer as a nodal officer in each district to ensure that incidents of cow vigilantism are prevented and dealt with effectively.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said, “If the law is in place, why can’t the violence stop. Who will do it? This must stop. It is not permissible. There must be quick action. Some kind of planned action is required.”
Four states — Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat readily accepted the court’s suggestion to appoint dedicated nodal police officers in the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to prevent gau rakshaks from inciting violence.Objecting to Centre’s stand during the last hearing in which Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court that law and order was a state subject and it had no role to play in it, senior advocate Indira Jaising said, “Non-violence is the founding faith of this country. Centre cannot turn its back on the violence. States have the responsibility to lodge FIRs against these vigilantes.” Agreeing with Jaising, CJI told Centre, “You have to stop it (violence).”
The remarks came while the court was hearing a petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatama Gandhi. and asked Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for four BJP ruled states as to why they can’t nominate a single police officer in each district to ensure that vigilante groups do not take the law into their hands.
After Mehta agreed to the suggestion, the court directed all states to appoint a nodal officer in each district. It also asked states to nominate a police officer for highway patrol to check such violence.
“If any deviance takes place, he (officer) shall take strong action in accordance with law,” the bench said. Jaising also sought directions from the court to the Centre to exercise its obligation under Article 256 of the Constitution to instruct the states to take necessary steps in law to save innocent human lives from fury of the mobs. The court directed the chief secretaries and the directors general of police of states to consult each other and respond to the court on the same. The Centre shall also indicate its views on this issue.
The court posted the case for hearing on September 22.Besides Gandhi, Congress leader Tehseen Poonawalla had earlier filed a similar petition on the issue.