The Supreme Court has issued an 11-point directive to draft and submit a bill to the federal parliament for the protection and promotion of Nepal’s national animal—the cow. A joint bench of Justices Kumar Regmi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued the mandate calling for the formulation of the Cow Protection and Promotion Act.
The mandate instructs the government to update land records in the name of cow shelters nationwide, ensure their proper protection, and guarantee that such properties are used solely for cow rearing and welfare. It also states that the federal government must provide necessary land for cow shelters at the recommendation of local authorities.
Article 9(3) of the Constitution of Nepal designates the cow as the national animal. The court's ruling follows a writ petition demanding legal provisions to prevent cows from being abandoned or mistreated. The petition was filed by Kedarsharan Bikal, Humnath Sharma Poudel, Ramhir Gyawali, and others. The verdict was delivered on 11 Nov 2024.
The court has also ordered that every local level construct at least one cowshed, either operated directly or through farmer groups, NGOs, temples, or monasteries. These shelters must house stray cows and can provide them free of cost to interested groups.
Additionally, the directive calls for joint efforts from federal, provincial, and local governments to promote awareness of the economic and health benefits of cow-based products such as milk, curd, and ghee. It highlights the role of cow dung and urine in promoting organic agriculture.
While existing laws such as the Civil Code and the Civil Penal Code (2017) prohibit cow slaughter, the court noted a lack of legislation to prevent cow abandonment, illegal sale, or export. A previous Supreme Court ruling had called for the formation of a study committee to draft an Animal Welfare Act and assess the adequacy of existing policies to protect indigenous animal breeds.
Concluding that there is no comprehensive legal framework specifically for cow protection and promotion, the court emphasized the state’s constitutional responsibility and issued a mandate to the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers to draft the necessary legislation.
The court also ordered the government to provide free insurance for cows kept at home for protection purposes. It directed coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments to support the marketing of cow products. Additionally, the court instructed the documentation of indigenous cow breeds found in the Himalayas, hills, and Tarai, along with initiating necessary conservation measures. It further ordered the inclusion of educational content highlighting the importance of cows in school curricula at all levels.
Furthermore, it directed that the Police Headquarters and the Attorney General’s Office issue written instructions to all government attorneys for investigating and prosecuting cases of cow slaughter or abuse.
The mandate also restricts the export of cattle, except for breeding calves, and directs security agencies to monitor compliance. It instructs that subsidies for animal husbandry prioritize cow welfare, standardization, storage, and market management of cow-derived products.
Finally, the court ordered that the Attorney General’s Office send copies of the ruling to all respondents, state governments via the seven Chief Justices, and all 753 municipalities via the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. The Supreme Court’s Directorate of Enforcement will monitor the implementation of this judgment.
