PRAYAGRAJ: Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, who came under the media spotlight recently after making a statement that cows should be declared as India's national animal, has made headlines again with another statement in the same order. He has claimed that scientists believe cow is the only animal that inhales and exhales oxygen.
In the 12-page order written in Hindi, Yadav said ghee prepared from cow's milk is traditionally used in yajnas for the fact that it gives special energy to sunrays and these ultimately cause rain. It may be mentioned that Yadav is not the first person who have made this claim that cows inhale and exhale oxygen. In 2019, the chief minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat had made the same statement.
In the order, the Allahabad High Court judge also mentioned a quote by Arya Samaj founder Dayanand Saraswati which says a cow in its lifetime gives milk to 800 people, however, its meat can feed only 80. The order also states that the right to eat cow beef can never be considered a fundamental right.
The order by Yadav said cows have a long history in Indian culture and that the Centre should come up with framing regulations for their protection across the country. The government should place a bill in Parliament so that cows get fundamental rights. Also strict laws should be made for punishment of those who are found harming the animal. Cows should be declared as the national animal of the country, the order said.
The high court made the observation in connection with a hearing at the court regarding the bail plea of a man who was arrested under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. The court rejected the bail of the arrested man and made the statement advocating for "national animal" status to cows. The court mentioned that cows have found mention in India's ancient texts like the Vedas and the Mahabharata which define the culture of India and for which the country is known. It stressed that the central government should take the issue with importance and take appropriate initiatives so that fundamental rights to cows are ensured.
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