Citing texts from Manusmriti and Vedas, a sessions court in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, convicted three persons and sentenced them to rigorous life imprisonment for cow slaughtering.

In the initial four pages of the judgement, the court has cited “importance of cows” to consider the merit and demerits of the case. 

The judgment delivered on Monday claimed, citing ancient texts, that cows are “revered as the mother of the universe and believed that 33 crore deities reside.” 

The court said that despite knowing the cultural significance attached to cows, the accused slaughtered and attempted to sell its meat. 

The additional sessions judge BR Rajput convicted three accused identified as Wasim Kureshi, Mohammed Rafiq Kureshi and Asfak Bahelim, all residents of Ahmedabad. They used to buy old or non-milking cows and buffaloes at low prices and slaughter them for business.

They were found guilty under the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, among other charges.

While awarding them rigorous imprisonment for life, the court noted that despite knowing that “cows are considered as mothers, the accused mercilessly slaughtered it, cut off its heads, stomachs, legs and skin.” It says that the police caught them red-handed and seized about 277 kg of beef while they were making arrangements to sell it. 

“If such accused, who mercilessly slaughter cows, are not punished as prescribed by law,  the mother cows will become extinct with the passage of time,” the court noted. 

The judgment referred to Hindu scriptures, Manusmriti which “recognises the cow not merely as an animal but as an equal and as the “axis” of dharma.” 

It said that “Maharishi Manu assigned Vaishya varna the responsibility of protecting cows.” The judgment goes on to say that “cows are considered the mother of all cattle on earth.” (Deccan Herald)

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