Cow Vigilantism Unacceptable, Don't Link Victims To Religion: Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: The incidents of cow vigilantism are not acceptable and it's for the states to ensure that such occurrences don't happen, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said today. The Supreme Court also warned against linking mob violence to religion or caste and said "a victim is a victim".
"Nobody can take law into their own hands. It is the obligation of the state's to see these incidents are prevented," he said while hearing petitions on cow vigilantism.
The top court has reserved its verdict on compensation to victims, monitoring cases, fixing responsibility on cow vigilantism.
Last year, the Supreme Court had directed all 29 states and seven union territories (UTs) to take steps to stop violence in the name of cow protection and asked them to appoint officers to go after "vigilante groups".
The top court had also asked the centre -- which had pleaded that law and order was a state subject -- whether under the Constitution, it had the responsibility to ask states to crack down on cow vigilantism.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said, "Let the compliance reports be filed...nobody can wash off their hands (from their duty). We will give directions to all the states."
The top court's directions had come after a petition from Tushar Gandhi, calling for relief from cow vigilantism. Besides Mr Gandhi, Congress leader Tehseen Poonawalla has also filed a similar petition.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, who had appeared for Mr Gandhi, said the central government be directed to frame a national policy on preventing incidents of cow vigilantism.
She also said there were several judgements, which make compensation mandatory to the victims of such crimes, but the families were yet to receive it.
courtesy : ndtv.com
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
