Prahalad Krishna Shukla vs State of U.P. and 3 Others — Allahabad HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Prahalad Krishna Shukla vs State of U.P. and 3 Others — Allahabad HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Respondents directed to ensure adequate care pertaining to the cows and to ensure regular monitoring of the Gaushalas.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed to constitute a Special Investigation Team for inquiry into the death of 50 cows and calf and to monitor the different Gaushalas at Vrindavan, Mathura, besides taking action against the responsible authorities/persons. +1 more

Court's answer

In view of the fact situation and the documents placed on record (including the F.I.R., interim report dated 16.12.2024 and final report dated 07.01.2025), the Court found no reason to continue with the present P.I.L. and disposed of it.

Ratio / Principle

The respondents are directed to ensure that adequate care pertaining to the cows etc. is taken and that regular monitoring of the Gaushalas is ensured.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Allahabad High Court (DB: Arun Bhansali, CJ and Kshitij Shailendra, J) disposes of P.I.L. No. 306 of 2025 filed by Prahalad Krishna Shukla seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team into the death of more than 50 cows and calf found dead on 13.12.2024 at Dhaurera Area/Jungle, PMB Polytechnic, Mathura Vrindavan Road, and monitoring of Gaushalas at Vrindavan, Mathura. The respondents produced instructions showing that an Investigation Team (City Magistrate, Additional Commissioner, Nagar Nigam, besides Police and Veterinary Department authorities) was constituted on 13.12.2024 itself, an F.I.R. was lodged, an interim report dated 16.12.2024 and a final report dated 07.01.2025 were submitted, and copies were produced for the Court's perusal. Learned Standing Counsel stated that, after thorough inquiry, only 5 cows were found to be from two Gaushalas, and steps were taken regarding burial of carcasses and prevention of their removal. Finding no reason to continue the P.I.L. in view of the documents on record, the Court disposed of the petition, directing the respondents to ensure adequate care pertaining to the cows and regular monitoring of the Gaushalas.

Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:139653-DB

Chief Justice's Court

Case :- PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 306 of 2025

Petitioner :- Prahalad Krishna Shukla Respondent :- State of U.P. and 3 others Counsel for Petitioner :- Alok Krishan Tripathi Counsel for Respondent :- C.S.C., Harsh Vardhan Gupta, Arti Gupta

Hon'ble Arun Bhansali, Chief Justice Hon'ble Kshitij Shailendra, J.

This petition, purportedly in public interest, has been filed by the petitioner seeking a direction to the respondents to constitute Special Investigation Team for necessary inquiry in respect of death of 50 cows and calf and commanding the respondents to monitor the different Gaushalas at Vrindavan, Mathura, besides taking necessary action in the matter and punish the responsible authorities/ persons.

Submissions were made that on 13.12.2024, more than 50 cows and calf were found dead at Dhaurera Area/Jungle, PMB Polytechnic at Mathura Vrindavan Road, which was reported by the newspapers, cow identification tags were found at the spot and activists collected the pictures of the dead animals who were found injured. Despite application made by the petitioner seeking a high level inquiry, no action was taken, based on which, the present petition has been filed.

Instructions were sought from the respondents, who have produced the instructions, whereby it was indicated that as soon as the said incident came to light, on 13.12.2024 itself an Investigation Team was constituted, inter alia , comprised of the

City Magistrate, Additional Commissioner, Nagar Nigam, besides Police and Veterinary Department authorities. The said Committee made exhaustive inquiry and gave an interim report dated 16.12.2024 and an F.I.R. was also lodged in this regard. Subsequently, a final report dated 07.01.2025 has been given by the Committee. Copies of the documents including F.I.R., interim report and final report have been produced for perusal of the Court.

Learned counsel for the petitioner made submissions that death of cows is apparent and that the respondents have not been able to identify the culprits in this regard and have also not taken any action against various Gaushalas, to which the said dead animals belong.

Learned Standing Counsel made submissions that after thorough inquiry, it was found that only 5 cows were from two Gaushalas and that as and when any death takes place, a land has been earmarked wherein the said cows are buried.

Apprehension has been expressed that few of the buried carcasses were taken out for reasons unknown and that the respondents have now taken steps to ensure that no such incident occurs in future.

In view of the above fact situation and the documents placed on record, we do not find any reason to continue with the present P.I.L., the same stands disposed of.

The respondents are directed to ensure that adequate care pertaining to the cows etc. is taken and a regular monitoring of the Gaushalas must also be ensured.

Order Date :- 13.8.2025

SL

(Kshitij Shailendra, J) (Arun Bhansali, CJ)

Digitally signed by :- SHYAM LAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad