The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking prohibition on the slaughter of old bulls and buffaloes [Brishbhan Verma v. Union of India and Ors]..A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh directed the Centre to file its response by March 15..The plea filed by one Brishbhan Verma, through advocate Prashant Shukla, argued that the prohibition on cow slaughter must be extended to bulls and buffaloes as they assist in agricultural work and breeding even after reaching a certain age..It was argued that buffaloes and bulls continue to provide dung and urine which can be used by farmers to increase productivity of land.Verma also cited Article 48 of the Constitution to submit that the Directive Principles of State Policy promote prohibition on slaughter of any animal or its progeny.The petitioner contended that the existing cow slaughter ban discriminates between male and female animals.“If there is prohibition on slaughter of any person, then male and female both are (sic) prohibited. There is prohibition on the peacock, then peahen will also be prohibited,” the plea stated.
