Cases under cow protection Act to be fast-tracked

Disposal of cases registered under the cow protection Act are set to be fast-tracked, with the state government setting up four special courts with jurisdiction across Haryana.

"The Governor, with the concurrence of Punjab and Haryana High Court, hereby directs the Courts of seniormost Additional District and Sessions Judge and Civil Judge, holding regular courts, in the districts of Nuh, Palwal, Ambala and Hisar as special courts to try offences under the Haryana Gauvansh, Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, on fast track," a notification issued by Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Administration of Justice, said.

While the Nuh court will have jurisdiction over Nuh, Rewari, Narnaul, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani, the Palwal court will have jurisdiction over Palwal, Faridabad, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Sonepat districts.

Similarly, Ambala, Panchkula, Panipat, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Karnal district will come under the Ambala court. The Hisar court will have jurisdiction over Hisar, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa and Kaithal districts.

After the formation of the government under Manohar Lal Khattar, the BJP enacted the Act in 2015, prohibiting the slaughter of cows in the state. The law also aimed to reduce the consumption of beef.

Under the Act, no one can slaughter, offer for slaughter, or cause to be slaughtered a cow. Killing a cow in self-defence or an accident is not considered slaughter.

The Special Cow Protection Task Force enforces the Act in Haryana and collects information about cattle smuggling and slaughter from the public.