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It is for States to take action against cow vigilantes, Centre tells SC

Published

9 years ago

July 21, 2017

It is for States to take action against cow vigilantes, Centre tells SC

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Centre scored a victory of sorts by getting Home Ministry deleted from list of Respondents

Taking action against vigilantism and violence by cow protection groups or “’gau rakshaks” is a State subject and the Centre has no role to play, but it condemns all forms of vigilantism, the Union government told the Supreme Court on Friday.

Neither the Centre nor have States such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra filed any written response to the court’s repeated orders to them do so.

The government’s response was to a bunch of petitions led by Shehzeen Poonawalla seeking criminal action against cow vigilante groups whose recent rampages and lynchings saw rise in communal tensions in the country. The petition came up for hearing before the Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and Mohan M Shantanagoudar on Friday (July 21).

Notice was issued to all state governments as well as the central government to respond. On Friday, Solicitor General (SG) Ranjit Kumar scored a victory of sorts by having the name of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) deleted from the petition as a party.

The SG appearing for the Union of India said that the central government cannot support the vigilantism on cow protection or any other kind of vigilantism. He also stated that it was purely a state subject to maintain law and order and hence the centre should not figure on the respondents’ list. As a result, the name of Respondent No. 2, the MHA, was deleted.

Senior advocate Santosh Hegde appeared for petitioner Tehseen S Poonawalla and stated that only Karnataka and Jharkhand had filed their replies.

The BJP-ruled Gujarat and Jharkhand informed the court that action has been taken against those involved in violence related to cow vigilantism.

The court directed other states to file their replies, asking what action had been taken by them against cow vigilantism. The apex court also told the Centre and states not to protect any kind of vigilantism, according to the news agency PTI. It also sought the assistance of the Centre and states for removing violent content related to cow vigilantism uploaded on social media.

The central government, asserting that it does not support any kind of vigilantism in any state, told the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, “No vigilante group has any place in the country as per the procedure of law.”

“Law and order is a state subject and Central government does not have any role into it. However, Union of India is of the view that no vigilante group has any space in the country as per procedures of law. It does not support any kind of vigilantism by private persons,” Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said.

The bench recorded their submission and asked the Centre and other states to file their report regarding to the violent incidents in four weeks time and posted the matter for further hearing on September 6.

On April 7, the Supreme Court had formally issued a notice to the Centre and some of the states on a petition that sought a ban on cow protection vigilantes allegedly indulging in violence and committing atrocities against Dalits and minorities. Activist Tehseen S Poonawalla, in his plea, said violence committed by these ‘Gau Raksha’ groups have reached such proportions that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared them as people who were “destroying the society”.

Attacks have continued even after Modi’s warning. Opposition parties and critics say that the BJP-led government at the Centre has done little to rein in the vigilante groups. Critics also accuse the Sangh Parivar of tacitly backing the vigilante groups.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat had earlier defended the cow-protection groups, saying these “law-abiding good people” perform an important role and they shouldn’t be confused with self-styled, motivated vigilantes.

Bhagwat said the government should distinguish between anti-social elements and “law-abiding citizens” who were upholding the law — seen as a reference to the fact that cow slaughter is banned in most states in India.

On Friday, RSS all-India Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya, Vaidya, replying to questions on incidents of lynching and violence linked to cow protection, said, “Sangh does not support any kind of violence. We have said it earlier and made it clear earlier too.”

Responding to the ideological bent colouring these attacks, he said, “Gau raksha is a different issue. The movement of gau raksha has been going on for hundreds of years. These incidents have been happening for years together. It is not that it has happened for the first time.”

The RSS leader said that the media is trying to connect it to a kind of ideology that it propounds, and that the opposition is trying to politicise the issue on that basis.

On Thursday in Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stressed on the government’s commitment to crack down on cow vigilantes. He also warned against a “selective morality” where hurting the sentiments of one side is deemed fair but not those of the other.

“All sides have condemned violence, the prime minister Narendra Modi has severely condemned it, in fact he has spoken about it thrice. There can be no justification of this violence. Our respect for cows cannot be the reason. Violence can never be a partisan issue. Right to equality and right to religious belief come with the obligation of mutual respect and tolerance…but Mr [Ghulam Nabi] Azad, ask yourself, have we twisted the definition of secularism?”, Jaitley was quoted as saying.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Supreme Court raps Meta over WhatsApp privacy policy

The Supreme Court warned Meta that it would not tolerate any compromise of citizens’ privacy while hearing a case related to WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy and a CCI penalty.

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February 3, 2026

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered strong observations against Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, over the messaging platform’s 2021 privacy policy, warning that it would not tolerate any compromise of citizens’ privacy.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya said the court would not allow the sharing of user data in a manner that exploits Indians, remarking that privacy protections under the Constitution must be followed. “You can’t play with privacy… we will not allow you to share a single digit of our data,” the Chief Justice said during the hearing.

The matter relates to a plea challenging the law tribunal’s decision that upheld a ₹213 crore penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on WhatsApp, while also permitting certain data-sharing practices for advertising purposes.

Court questions accessibility of privacy policy

During the hearing, the court raised concerns about whether WhatsApp’s privacy policy could realistically be understood by large sections of the population, particularly those who are poor or not formally educated.

The bench questioned if users such as roadside vendors, rural residents, or people who do not speak English would be able to comprehend the policy’s terms. It also expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of opt-out clauses, stating that even legally trained individuals find such policies difficult to understand.

Describing the alleged data practices as potentially exploitative, the court said it would not allow private information to be taken without genuine and informed consent from users.

The Chief Justice also cited a personal example, suggesting that users often begin seeing advertisements shortly after exchanging sensitive messages on WhatsApp, such as medical conversations, raising questions about how user data is being utilised.

Arguments from government and Meta

Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta criticised WhatsApp’s data-sharing practices, calling them exploitative and commercially driven. In response, the Chief Justice said that if companies cannot operate in line with constitutional values, they should not do business in India.

Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Akhil Sibal, appearing for Meta and WhatsApp, countered the allegations by asserting that all WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted and that the company cannot read message content.

Background of the case

In November 2024, the CCI ruled against WhatsApp over its 2021 privacy policy, holding that the company had abused its dominant market position by effectively forcing users to accept the updated terms.

The watchdog objected to WhatsApp making continued access to messaging services conditional on permitting data-sharing with other Meta platforms, leading to the imposition of a ₹213 crore fine. Meta has deposited the penalty.

In January 2025, Meta and WhatsApp challenged the CCI order. Later, in November 2025, the law tribunal lifted a five-year restriction on data-sharing while maintaining the financial penalty.

India News

India welcomes US tariff cut as PM Modi thanks Trump for easing trade barriers

PM Modi has thanked US President Donald Trump after the US reduced tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, calling the move beneficial for bilateral trade.

Published

5 hours ago

February 3, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to lower tariffs on Indian goods, describing the move as one that unlocks significant opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

Minutes after President Trump announced the reduction on his social media platform, the Prime Minister took to X to express his appreciation, calling the development a boost for “Made in India” products entering the US market.

“Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent,” PM Modi said, thanking President Trump on behalf of India’s 1.4 billion people.

The Prime Minister said he had a “wonderful” conversation with President Trump and underlined the broader significance of the decision, noting that closer economic cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies benefits people on both sides.

PM Modi also said that when two major economies work together, it opens doors for mutually beneficial growth, adding that India supports President Trump’s efforts aimed at global peace, stability, and prosperity. He said he looked forward to strengthening the partnership further.

President Trump, while announcing the tariff reduction, described the move as a “trade deal” and referred to PM Modi as a close friend and a respected leader.

Trade signals positive momentum

The US India Strategic Partnership Forum described the tariff reduction as an important and positive first step in strengthening bilateral trade relations.

While the detailed terms of the agreement are yet to be finalised, the announcement reflects political intent on both sides to move towards a broader US-India bilateral trade agreement. Such an agreement is expected to address issues related to tariffs, market access, non-tariff barriers, and trade across multiple sectors.

How tariffs on Indian goods evolved

The latest decision comes after months of tariff fluctuations on Indian exports to the US.

Timeline of key developments

April 2, 2025: The US imposed a 26% reciprocal tariff on several Indian imports as part of global tariff actions.
April 10, 2025: The tariffs were paused for 90 days, with a 10% duty retained on all US imports.
July 31, 2025: A 25% tariff was announced on Indian goods, along with a warning linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
August 7, 2025: Tariffs were raised to 50%, the highest imposed on any US trade partner at the time.
February 2, 2026: The US announced a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods to 18%.

The latest rollback marks a significant easing of trade tensions and sets the stage for deeper engagement between India and the United States.

India News

US-India trade deal to strengthen strategic partnership, says Amit Shah

Amit Shah says the US-India trade deal with reduced tariffs will elevate strategic partnership and pave the way for stronger trade ties and mutual growth.

Published

5 hours ago

February 3, 2026

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the newly announced trade deal between India and the United States will elevate the strategic partnership between the two countries and pave the way for stronger trade ties and mutual growth.

In a post on social media platform X, Shah said the agreement marks a significant moment in India-US relations, with business between the two nations set to expand further. He noted that the deal, which includes a reduction in reciprocal tariffs, will benefit both countries and their people.

Calling it a “big day” for bilateral ties, Shah said the trade deal has been locked with a significantly reduced tariff of 18 per cent, creating fresh opportunities for economic cooperation. He also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on what he described as a historic agreement.

According to Shah, the agreement will strengthen the strategic partnership between the two democracies and support growth on both sides. He added that trade and business activity between India and the US is expected to flourish in the coming period.

Modi welcomes reduced tariffs on Indian goods

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed the development, saying he was delighted that tariffs on “Made in India” products would now be reduced to 18 per cent. He thanked President Trump for the announcement and said the move would benefit the people of both nations.

Modi said cooperation between two large economies and the world’s largest democracies creates opportunities for mutually beneficial growth. He added that such collaboration helps unlock new possibilities for trade and development.

The prime minister also said he looked forward to working closely with the US president to take the bilateral partnership to unprecedented heights.

Trump outlines terms of the agreement

US President Donald Trump said the United States agreed to lower the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent following a phone conversation with Prime Minister Modi. He added that India would move forward to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers against the US.

Trump said New Delhi had also committed to purchasing American goods at a much higher level, including energy, technology, agricultural products, coal and other items. He mentioned that India would buy US energy worth more than USD 500 billion.

The US president said the relationship between the two countries would become even stronger going forward. He also noted that the two leaders discussed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine during their conversation.

Background to the trade talks

India and the US had agreed earlier to finalise the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement, but negotiations had slowed after higher tariffs were imposed on Indian goods. The latest agreement follows several rounds of talks between the two sides.

Officials said India now faces lower tariffs compared to several competing export economies, which could provide an advantage to Indian exporters in the US market.