HC to Centre: Provide funds for ‘gau sadans’

Vijay Arora

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, July 29

The HP High Court today directed the Secretary of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries of Government of India to provide sufficient funds for the construction of “gau sadans” in the state.

The court further directed the Himachal Pradesh Govansh Samverdhan Board to formulate norms for registration of gau sadans within three months from today.

A division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur passed this order on a petition wherein a question of protection of cows has been raised. In this petition the petitioner has also sought complete ban on cow slaughter.

While passing this order the court observed that “the devotion of Indians towards worship of cows is an integral part of Hinduism. There is dire need to construct modern gaushallas/gau sadans in the state to protect abandoned cows. The animals have their own fundamental rights.”

The court further directed all the Superintendents of Police to remove stray animals from the national highway and make arrangements for their transportation to the nearest “gau shalas” to ensure safe, free and smooth flow of traffic.

With a view to protect the interest of the farmers in the state the court has expended the scope of the petition. It directed the state government to implement Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in letter and spirit in order to ensure water to every farm (“har khet ko paani”).

The court has also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that the State Agriculture Commission is constituted, notified and made functional within a period of three months positively.

It also directed the state to implement Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to provide better insurance cover to the crops of the farmer in the state.

The court also directed the state to implement Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) for all the crops.

It further directed the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the Government of India for declaring minimum support price (MSP) for 107 commodities.

Till then the state government is directed to at least formulate a Market Intervention Scheme for 107 commodities.