Declare cow national animal, protecting it should be a fundamental right of Hindus: Allahabad HC

The cow should be declared India’s national animal and its protection must be made a fundamental right of Hindus, the Allahabad High Court said on Wednesday, Live Law reported.

Justice Shekhar Yadav made the observations while denying bail to a man accused of stealing and slaughtering a cow. He had been charged under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act.

The judge also said that protecting cows is not the task of one specific religion, according to Bar and Bench. “Cow is the culture of India and the work of saving the culture is of every citizen living in the country irrespective of religion,” he added.

Yadav said that the right to life took precedence over the right to kill.

“Right to eat beef can never be considered a fundamental right,” he said. “Fundamental right is not only the prerogative of beef eaters, rather, those who worship the cow and are financially dependent on cows, also have the right to lead a meaningful life.”

The judge added that India will prosper only if cows are revered and criticised those in charge of cow shelters. “The government also gets the gaushalas [cow shelters] constructed, but the people who have to take care of the cow do not take care of the cows,” he said, according to Bar and…

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