The Allahabad High Court has refused to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the deaths of cows and a calf at various gaushalas in Vrindavan, Mathura district, last year.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Prahalad Krishna Shukla, who had sought an SIT investigation into the alleged deaths of 50 cows and a calf at different shelters on December 13, 2024.
The petitioner claimed that despite repeated requests for a high-level inquiry, no effective action was taken. He alleged that cow identification tags and photographs collected by activists showed the extent of the deaths, but authorities failed to fix accountability on the shelters or identify the culprits.
In response, the state government informed the court that an inquiry team had been constituted immediately after reports of the incident. The team comprised the city magistrate, additional commissioner, Nagar Nigam, as well as police and veterinary officials. An interim report was submitted on December 16, 2024, following which an FIR was registered.
The state counsel further clarified that the inquiry revealed only five cows from two gaushalas had died, and their burial sites had been demarcated. Measures had also been put in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents, it was submitted.
Accepting the government’s stand, the High Court on August 13 declined to direct an SIT probe. However, while disposing of the PIL, it directed authorities to ensure adequate care of cows and other bovines and to conduct regular monitoring of all gaushalas.
