Allahabad HC Says Act Is Being Misused While Granting Bail To Man Accused Of Cutting Cow Hide

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to man accused of cutting cows skin in pieces while stating whenever any meat is recovered, it is normally shown as cow meat (beef) without getting it examined or analyzed by the Forensic Laboratory, forcing accused person to languish in jail for the offence that may not have been committed at all. 

“Whenever cows are shown to be recovered, no proper recovery memo is prepared and one does not know where cows go after recovery. Goshalas do not accept the non-milching cows or old cows and they are left to wander on the roads. Similarly, owner of the cows after milking, leave the cows to roam on roads, to drink drainage/sewer water and eat garbage, polythene, etc. Moreover, cows and cattle on the road are menace to the traffic and number of deaths have been reported due to them. In the rural areas cattle owners who are unable to feed their live stock, abandon them,” said Justice Siddharth. 

The Court was hearing the Bail application through video conferencing filed by Babu accused in crime under Sections 3/5/8 of U.P Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955. The allegation against the applicant is that he along with co-accused persons was cutting cows skin in pieces. When the police came only two persons, namely, Amir and Salim were arrested. They have named the applicant who is in jail since 20.12.2019.

The Court said, “The offence is triable by Magistrate and maximum sentence is of 7 years. Act is being misused against innocent persons. Whenever cows are shown to be recovered, no proper recovery memo is prepared and one does not know where cows go after recovery. Moreover, cows and cattle on the road are menace to the traffic and number of deaths have been reported due to them. In the rural areas cattle owners who are unable to feed their live stock, abandon them.”

Js. Sidhharth observed, “The cows cannot be transported outside the State for fear of locals and police. There are no pastures now. Thus, these animals wander here and there destroying the crops. Earlier, farmers were afraid of ‘Neelgai’ (Vanroj an antelope) now they have to save their crops from the stray cows. Whether cows are on roads or on fields their abandonment adversely affects the society in a big way. Some way out has to be found out to keep them either in the cow shelters or with the owners, if U.P. Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act is to be implemented in letter and spirit.”

After, Considering the material on record as well as the dictum of Apex Court in the case of Dataram Singh Vs. State of U.P. and another, reported in (2018) 3 SCC 22, larger mandate of Article 21 of the Constitution of India,  the applicant involved in the crime was released on bail by Js. Siddharth on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned, subject to the following conditions :- 

1. The applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence by intimidating/ pressurizing the witnesses, during the investigation or trial. 

2. The applicant shall cooperate in the trial sincerely without seeking any adjournment. 

3. The applicant shall not indulge in any criminal activity or commission of any crime after being released on bail. 

4. The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code; 

5. In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the Court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code. 

6. The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the trial court default of this condition is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of his bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. 

7. In case the applicant has been enlarged on short term bail as per the order of committee constituted under the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court his bail shall be effective after the period of short term bail comes to an end. 

8. The applicant shall be enlarged on bail on execution of personal bond without sureties till normal functioning of the courts is restored. The accused will furnish sureties to the satisfaction of the court below within a month after normal functioning of the courts are restored. 

9. The party shall file computer generated copy of such order downloaded from the official website of High Court Allahabad. 

10. The computer generated copy of such order shall be self attested by the counsel of the party concerned. 

11. The concerned Court/Authority/Official shall verify the authenticity of such computerized copy of the order from the official website of High Court Allahabad and shall make a declaration of such verification in writing. 

In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail, said the Court. 

-India Legal Bureau