Delhi High Court dismisses plea to celebrate Cow Hug Day on Valentine's Day; says court cannot pass such directions

The Delhi High Court on Friday said that it cannot give directions that people should celebrate Cow Hug Day on Valentine's Day. .Justice Prathiba M Singh refused to entertain a plea challenging the decision of the Animal Welfare Board India (AWBI) to withdraw its notification for celebration of the Cow Hug Day on February 14. "How can the court say that you celebrate cow hug day on Valentine's Day?" the bench remarked. The bench further said that the celebration of any particular event by the AWBI is purely in the domain of the board and the government. "This Court does not deem that the same can be interfered with under Article 226 of the Indian constitution,” the court noted in its order. .The AWBI had issued an appeal on February 6 asking people to hug cows on Valentine's Day on February 14. The board said that hugging cows would bring happiness and positivity."In view of the immense benefit of the cow, hugging with cow will bring emotional richness hence will increase our individual & collective happiness. Therefore, all the cow lovers may also celebrate the February 14 as Cow Hug day keeping in mind the importance of mother cow and make life happy and full of positive energy," the AWBI said in its appeal.This had triggered memes and troll comments in social media. Subsequently, the said announcement was withdrawn by the AWBI on February 10. “As directed by the Competent Authority and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying the appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for the celebration of Cow Hug Day on 14th February 2023 stands withdrawn,” the AWBI order read. .This decision by AWBI to withdraw the same was challenged in the High Court by one Kolisetty Shiva Kumar.