Source: LiveMint
Days after a Rajasthan HC judge said that cow should be made the national animal, a Hyderabad high court judge on Friday, said that cow is “sacred national wealth” and is a “substitute to Mother and God”.
Justice B Siva Sankara Rao of Hyderabad HC quoted from a Supreme Court order and said there is no fundamental right given to the Muslims to insist on the slaughter of cows on the occasion of Bakrid. He called it a settled legal position.
He also directed that veterinary doctors of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who drive healthy cows to slaughter houses by falsely certifying them unfit for giving milk, should be punished under the AP Cow Slaughter Act, 1977. He also directed that the Act should be amended.
In the states of Andhra and Telangana, cow slaughter is allowed if they are certified to be unproductive.
Quoting the examples of Emperor Babar, the judge said that the king prohibited the slaughter of cows. He added that emperors Akbar, Jehangir, and Ahmad Shah were also against cow slaughter.
Justice Rao also sought amendment of Section 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and to consider enhancement of punishment on par, for a jail term of five years.