Now, Rajasthan HC judge wants national animal label for cow

The Rajasthan High Court has asked the central and state governments to declare the cow as India’s national animal and ensure life terms in jail for those who kill the animal considered holy by many Hindus.

Justice Manish Chand Sharma also listed 11 benefits of the cow while hearing a petition on the death of more than 500 cows at a Jaipur government-run shelter.

“It is believed that 33 crore gods and goddesses reside inside the cow… cow is the only living being which intakes oxygen and emits oxygen,” the judge said, adding that the animal was a laboratory in itself. He retires on Wednesday.

“It is expected from the government that it should declare cow as national animal and for this purpose the chief secretary and advocate-general of state are declared legal custodians of the cow,” the judge said in a 139-page order, calling himself a Shiv devotee.

The order comes amid a fierce nationwide debate on a controversial central government notification that banned the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets. Angry protests have rocked Kerala and Tamil Nadu and other states such as West Bengal have rejected the rule on the grounds that it violates India’s federal structure.

Justice Sharma quoted scientists from India and abroad to illustrate how the cow was good for mankind. Quoting German scholar Rudolf Steiner, he said the cow through its horns absorbed “cosmic” energy. Further, he quoted a Madras-based scientist to say that cow dung kills cholera germs.