Mob aggression
The Supreme Court has ordered state governments to notify it of any actions taken in instances involving cow vigilantism and mob lynching within a period of six weeks. The Supreme Court is considering a petition submitted by a women’s organization, which is requesting that states act immediately to address the violence against Muslims committed by cow vigilantes in compliance with the 2018 Tehseen Poonawalla court verdict.
The petitioner has brought to light an alleged lynching that occurred in Madhya Pradesh; nonetheless, the victim was charged with cow slaughter and a FIR was filed against her. However, the remedy sought cannot be restricted to any one faith, as the court has made clear.
Poonawalla, an activist, has requested that the court step in to stop the growing number of cow vigilantism occurrences. The court issued a series of rules, stating that mob justice in any form was unfathomable in a civilized society and contrary to the norms of a judicial system.
These suggestions included the hearing of cases in fast-track courts and the creation of a nodal person in each district to prevent similar instances. Notably, murder or “grievous hurt” by five or more people on certain grounds—such as race, caste, sex, language, or personal beliefs—has been included as a distinct category under the new criminal legislation, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This horrible crime carries a life sentence or the death penalty as retribution.
It is concerning that despite repeated warnings from the Center to states and UTs demanding swift and severe action against lawbreakers taking matters into their own hands in the name of cow protection, the chaos caused by mobs has not subsided.
These vigilantes—many of whom also work as extortionists—are given more confidence by governmental favoritism and the incompetence or prejudice of the police. Since “public order” and “police” are state-mandated duties, state governments must take the initiative to take action against offenders and make sure that victims are not treated like criminals.
