Allahabad High Court Quashes FIR Against Rahul Yadav in Cow Slaughter Case
Court Criticizes Frivolous FIRs and Urges Action Against Vigilantism Under Cow Protection Pretense
In a significant judgment delivered by the Allahabad High Court, the FIR against petitioner Rahul Yadav, filed under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, has been quashed. The Division Bench comprising Justices Abdul Moin and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary highlighted that mere transportation of cow progeny within the state does not attract the provisions of Section 5(A) of the Cow Slaughter Act, 1955. The court ruled that no offense is made out under Sections 3, 5(A), and 8 of the Act due to the absence of evidence of slaughter, maiming, or physical injury to the animals.
The petitioner, Rahul Yadav, had been accused based on an FIR alleging the transportation of nine cow progenies for slaughter without any evidence supporting the claim of slaughter or intended slaughter. The court emphasized that filing frivolous FIRs under the Act is deprecated, and such actions waste judicial time and harass innocent individuals.
Furthermore, the court directed the Principal Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police to file personal affidavits explaining the prevalence of such frivolous FIRs across the state, warning that failure to comply may attract exemplary costs and personal appearances before the court.
In a broader context, the judgment also addressed the issue of mob vigilantism and violence under the guise of cow protection. It reiterated the directions from the Supreme Court in "Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India" and "Kodungallur Film Society v. Union of India" to curb vigilantism and mob violence. The state authorities have been directed to strictly adhere to these directives to prevent such unlawful activities.
The judgment marks a crucial step towards ensuring that legal provisions are not misused to target innocent citizens and calls for strict compliance with Supreme Court guidelines to curb vigilantism. The court has scheduled further hearings and demanded compliance reports from the concerned officials by November 7, 2025.
Bottom Line:
Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 - Mere transportation of progeny of cow within the State does not attract provisions of Section 5(A) of the Act, 1955 - No offence made out under Sections 3, 5(A), and 8 of the Act, 1955 in the absence of slaughter, maiming, or physical injury to the animals - Filing of frivolous FIRs under the Act, 1955 is deprecated.
Statutory provision(s): Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955 Sections 3, 5(A), 8; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 Section 11.
Rahul Yadav v. State of U.P., (Allahabad)(Lucknow)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2794490
