Allahabad High Court Slams UP Govt Over Mob Violence In The Name Of Cow Protection

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 15:55 IST

Citing a recent case involving vigilantes who allegedly stopped a man’s car that later went missing, the bench said: “Violence, lynching and vigilantism is the order of the day”

Allahabad High Court (File pic)

The Allahabad High Court has pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to control cow-related mob violence and vigilantism, observing that lawlessness in the name of “cow protection" threatens the rule of law.

A bench of Justices Abdul Moin and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary made the observations while hearing a petition filed by Rahul Yadav, a Pratapgarh resident, seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against him under the UP Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 195, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The FIR alleged that cow progeny were being transported for slaughter, but the court noted that the animals were found alive and there was no claim that they were being taken outside the state which is a necessary element under Section 5A of the Cow Slaughter Act. Referring to its earlier decision in Kaliya v. State of U.P. (2023), the bench said that transportation of cow progeny within the state “is not a crime" and that such cases show the “casual manner in which the provisions of the Act, 1955 are being invoked".

The court noted that it was “deluged with such matters" based on First Information Reports being filed “left and right by the authorities and complainants under the provisions of the Act, 1955".

While granting interim protection to the petitioner, the bench shifted focus to what it called a disturbing trend of vigilantism. Citing a recent case involving vigilantes who allegedly stopped a man’s car that later went missing, the bench remarked, “Violence, lynching and vigilantism is the order of the day".

The court referred extensively to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018), which laid down detailed preventive, remedial, and punitive measures to curb mob lynching and vigilantism. Quoting from that judgment, the bench reiterated: “There can be no shadow of doubt that the authorities which are conferred with the responsibility to maintain law and order in the States have the principal obligation to see that vigilantism, be it cow vigilantism or any other vigilantism of any perception, does not take place".

The high court observed that despite the Tehseen Poonawalla directions issued seven years ago, “it is not known as to what action has been taken by the State Government for following the aforesaid directions as issued by the Apex Court," and expressed concern that cases “pertaining to vigilantism still continue to see the light of the day".

The bench noted that although a circular was issued by the Director General of Police on July 26, 2018, it “prima facie would not fall within the ambit of the directions" of the Supreme Court since “once the directions of the Apex Court are to the State Government, consequently, a Government order should have been issued".

Accordingly, the court directed the Principal Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police to file personal affidavits within three weeks explaining “why such casual First Information Reports are being filed" and “as to action which has been taken by the State Government pursuant to the directions issued by the Apex Court in the case of Tehseen S. Poonawalla".

The officials were also asked to clarify “why directions be not issued to the State to issue a Government order to ensure that such casual First Information Reports are not filed under the Act, 1955." The court warned that if the affidavits are not filed, both officials “shall appear in person before the court".

Salil Tiwari

Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr...Read More

Salil Tiwari, Senior Special Correspondent at Lawbeat, reports on the Allahabad High Court and courts in Uttar Pradesh, however, she also writes on important cases of national importance and public interests fr...

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