Cows will get Aadhaar-like numbers, Centre says in SC
TAGS TO HAVE DETAILS LIKE ANIMAL’S BREED, AGE, SEX, HEIGHT, COLOUR, TYPE OF HORN AND SPECIAL MARKS
The central government will soon approve tamperproof identity tags for all cattle in the country that will document a range of data, including a unique number and the type of their horn and tail, solicitor general Ranjit Kumar told the Supreme Court on Monday.
A government-appointed panel headed by a joint secretary of the Union home ministry came up with the idea as part of efforts to prevent illegal transportation of cattle and livestock to Bangladesh. The panel’s report was submitted to the top court on Monday, and Kumar told the bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar that the government backed the suggestions.
“The government will issue a formal notification soon,” Kumar said.
The polyurethane tags will contain identification details such as the age, breed, sex, lactation, height, colour, horn type, tail switch and special marks of cattle heads and its “progeny”.
The SC is hearing a petition to stop the smuggling of cattle to be slaughtered at beef export units.
Focus on cow protection, especially by vigilante groups, has risen since the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power at the Centre three years ago. There has been a string of cow-related violence but many state governments, particularly those ruled by the BJP, have defended the action on the grounds that the animal is considered holy by many Hindus.
Critics, however, accuse these vigilante groups of targeting people, mostly from the Muslim and Dalit communities.
Cows, buffaloes and other cattle are issued identity tags when they are insured. But the new proposal seeks ID cards are all cattle.
The suggestions included strengthening of institutional framework against cattle smuggling, sensitisation of enforcement agencies, the setting up of homes with guards for stray cattle and stricter prosecution.
CONTINUED ON P 6
The Central Board of Secondary Education, the country’s biggest school board, has decided that extra marks given to Class 12 students to help clear a paper will be mentioned on marksheets.
Known as “grace marks”, these are given in cases where a student’s score narrowly misses the passing-mark.
The decision was part of proposals discussed by top officials of the education ministry and counterparts in the state.
They included a move to do away with moderation — the practice of revising marks upwards — which could result in lower cut-offs in university entrances, such as the Delhi University.
States have also agreed to do away with the policy of moderation, and several of them may follow CBSE in declaring the grace marks as well.
HT had first reported about states planning to do away with moderation on April 12.
“CBSE has decided it will not spike marks at all. This will be implemented for this year’s board exam itself. It will award grace marks which will also be reflected in the mark sheet and the website will also clearly mention the mechanism used to give grace marks and to what extent,” said a senior official.
CONTINUED ON P 6