The cow should be declared the national animal of India and its protection should be part of the fundamental rights of the Hindu community, the Allahabad High Court said on Wednesday.
Observing that the animal is an important part of the Indian culture, Bench of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav said a fundamental right is not only the prerogative of beef eaters but also of those who worship cows and are financially dependent on it.
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The government should bring a Bill in Parliament and declare cow as the national animal and make strict laws against those who talk about harming the animal, the court said.
"The right to life is above the right to kill and the right to eat beef can never be considered a fundamental right," the court further said denying bail to a man who allegedly stole a cow and slaughtered it.
The HC further noted that it is not only Hindus who have understood the importance of cows, Muslim rulers also considered it as an important part of India's culture during their reign.
For example, Babur, Humayun and Akbar prohibited the sacrifice of cows in their religious festivals, the court said.
The ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali, made cow slaughter a punishable offence, the HC added.