The Supreme Court on Monday rapped the central government and state governments on their failure to contain incidents of mob lynching. According to reports, while at least eight state and union territory governments have failed to submit reports on mob lynching compliance, the Central government had to face the apex court’s criticism for failing to start the awareness campaign against mob lynching.

In July, the SC had passed guidelines in light of the rise in mob lynching cases. It said the “horrendous acts of mobocracy” cannot be allowed to overrun the law of the land. It had directed the Central and state governments to implement guidelines issued and file a compliance report. It had also asked the Central government to pass a law against mob lynchings.

Importantly, on September 7, only nine states had filed the compliance report.

Today, eights states and UTs – Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Telangana, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Daman and Diu, and Dadar and Nagar Haveli – have been asked to submit the compliance reports within two weeks. Earlier the SC had said if the states fail to submit the compliance report, their home secretaries will be asked to appear before the court in person.

Times Now reports that the Attorney General, KK Venugopal, said an awareness campaign against cow vigilantism and lynching will be launched in a few weeks on television and print media.