Singer Rajvir Jawanda’s death sparks court action: Himachal High Court seeks state response on stray cattle menace

The Division Bench, headed by Justice Gurmit Singh Sandhawalia, has sought the government’s response to the petition, which seeks a comprehensive action plan for the rehabilitation of stray cattle, effective use of cow cess funds, and stricter enforcement of road safety measures.

Advocate Navkiran Singh, who appeared for the petitioner organisation, said, “The cow cess collected from liquor sales and power consumption is meant to provide shelter to abandoned cattle, but citizens continue to pay with their lives,” he said.

The petition pointed out that the state has levied ₹10 cow cess on every liquor bottle since 2023-24, as well as a similar cess on electricity bills under the Himachal Pradesh Electricity (Duty) Amendment Bill, 2024. However, according to government data cited in the plea, over 9,000 stray animals still roam freely on roads, while only about 20,000 have been housed in gaushalas or cow shelters.

Citing a series of news reports and official figures, the petition stated that stray cattle have become a “major traffic hazard” on key highways, including the newly constructed Kiratpur–Manali four-lane road through Bilaspur, Mandi, and Kullu districts. Fatal accidents are said to occur “almost daily,” with photographs of cattle blocking highways frequently circulating on social media.

LFHRI has argued that the state’s failure to utilise the cow cess amounts to neglect of both animal welfare and public safety. The petition also highlights the impact on agriculture, noting that “hundreds of acres” have been left uncultivated as farmers abandon their fields due to the destruction of crops by stray cattle and monkeys, losses estimated at ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 crore annually.

The PIL was filed following the September 21 accident in which singer Rajvir Jawanda suffered critical injuries after his motorcycle hit stray cattle on a Himachal highway.

The 35-year-old popular singer was on his way to Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla when he met with the accident near Baddi. Jawanda remained on life support for several days before succumbing, sparking outrage among fans and renewed debate over the unchecked stray cattle menace in the hill state.

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