agencies
New Delhi, July 21: The Supreme Court Friday asked the Centre and states not to protect any kind of vigilantism. The apex court also sought the assistance of the Centre and states to remove violent content related to cow vigilantism uploaded on social media.
An SC bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar made the observations at the hearing of a petition filed by social activist Tehseen Poonawala. The petitioner had sought an apex court direction to the Centre and some states to take action against ‘gau rakshaks’.
Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, who appeared for the Centre, submitted that law and order was a state subject and that it was up to states to curb such incidents. “[The Centre] does not support any kind of vigilantism by private persons,” the solicitor general added.
The apex court had April 7 sought the response of six states to Tehseen’s plea, filed October 21, 2016. The petitioner had said that ‘Gau Raksha’ groups had grown to