New Delhi, July 17: The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged Centre to frame a separate law in Parliament to deal with cases of lynching. The court fixed the matter for further hearing on August 28. During the hearing on petitions against cow vigilantism, the three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said, "No citizen can take law into their own hands nor become the law unto themselves. It is the duty of State to ensure maintenance of law and order so as to protect secular ethos and prevent mobocracy."

Earlier this month, the top court had put the onus on states and said that it was for the state governments to ensure that incidents of cow vigilantism were prevented. The court had also stated that mob lynching was 'beyond law and order problem'.

Misra had also warned against linking mob violence to religion or caste. "It (mob lynching) is beyond law and order problem. It is a crime. It is not confined to any motive," Misra had said suggesting that it was not only cow vigilantism but also child lifting rumour among others.

During the course of hearing on a contempt petition filed by Tushar Gandhi seeking action on cow vigilantism, the central government had shifted its blame on the state governments. In its response filed before the bench, the Centre submitted that cow vigilantism is a law and order problem and the Apex Court may deal with the state government if they are not following its order.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2018 10:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).