Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Punjab and Haryana High Court Questions Haryana's Cow Protection Law Powers
Imagine a law in Haryana that aims to protect cows.
This law gives some special powers, like stopping and searching vehicles, to certain people.
A group called the National Federation of Indian Women thinks it's wrong for private people, not just police, to have these powers.
They have asked a big court, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to review these parts of the law.
The court has now asked the Haryana government to explain why these private individuals are given such powers.
The group believes these powers might be misused or are not fair for private citizens to hold.
Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice to the Haryana Government regarding a petition challenging its cow protection law.
The petition questions Sections 16 and 17 of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, which allegedly grant police powers to private individuals.
The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) arguing the law's provisions are unconstitutional.
These sections empower authorized persons to enter, stop, search vehicles, seize cattle, and confiscate vehicles involved in offenses under the Act.
The NFIW seeks the court to either strike down these sections or stop the authorization of private persons for enforcement.
- Who
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court and the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), Haryana Government.
- What
- The High Court issued a notice to the Haryana Government challenging the constitutionality of provisions in the state's cow protection law that allegedly allow private individuals to exercise police powers.
- When
- Wednesday (specific date not mentioned).
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, concerning Haryana state law.
- Why
- To challenge the alleged unconstitutional delegation of police powers to private individuals under the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act.
Petitioner's Concerns
Haryana Government's Position (to be clarified)
Delegation of Police Powers
Petitioner's Concerns
Sections 16 and 17 of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act improperly delegate police powers to private individuals, allowing them to stop, search, and seize vehicles and cattle.
Haryana Government's Position (to be clarified)
The Haryana Government has been issued a notice and will need to provide its justification for the provisions of the Act.
Constitutionality of Provisions
Petitioner's Concerns
The petition argues that these sections of the Act are unconstitutional and seeks either their invalidation or a halt to the authorization of private persons for enforcement.
Haryana Government's Position (to be clarified)
The court is seeking an explanation from the Haryana Government regarding the challenged provisions.
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- State
- Haryana
- Law Challenged
- Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, Sections 16 and 17
- Challenging Body
- National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)
- Key Allegation
- Unauthorized delegation of police powers to private individuals for enforcing cow protection laws.
- Action Taken
- Court issued notice to the Haryana Government.
