The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to shield an accused from arrest in a cow slaughter case, stressing that the act carries not just legal weight but also deep cultural and emotional consequences in Indian society.
The accused, Aasif, was alleged to have transported two cows to Rajasthan for slaughter, in violation of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act along with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. His plea for anticipatory bail was dismissed after the Court noted that he had repeatedly engaged in such activities.
Justice Sandeep Moudgil observed that the offence went beyond mere legal transgression, striking at the heart of public sentiment. “Certain acts, though committed in private, can ripple through society with severe repercussions when they clash with deeply held beliefs of a large section of the population,” the Court remarked.
The bench also underlined that anticipatory bail is not meant to provide safe passage for repeat offenders. The record showed Aasif had been booked in three earlier cases of a similar nature, where bail was granted but, according to the Court, “judicial trust was misused rather than respected.”
Calling him a “habitual offender,” the Court warned that granting protection now could embolden further violations and interfere with the ongoing investigation. Stressing that bail jurisprudence balances liberty with order and social harmony, the Court held that the allegations carried moral seriousness and refused to intervene.
The petition was accordingly dismissed.
