HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday directed the Andhra Pradesh government to take steps that no cock fights are held during Sankranthi festival.
The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A Shankar Narayana was passing this order in petitions filed separately against organising cock fights in places like Krishna and Godavari districts during the Sankranthi festival. The Court felt that the birds are being subjected to cruelty in the name of cock fights.
Petitioners Animal Rescue Organization, represented by Gopal Surabathula of East Godavari district, and Narahari Jagadish Kumar of West Godavari district contended that the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals Act and Rules are violated by organizing cock fights during the festival period. The Animal Welfare Board of India produced the reports showing the roosters in a pathetic condition.
On the other hand, K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, one of the respondent to the case, contended that the cock fights are a part of local culture and the tradition was in existence for the past several decades and cannot be stopped, and urged for granting permission to it.
Meanwhile, the government counsel submitted that the state DGP has already issued orders to the district SPs concerned to take action against organising cock fights with bettings and subjecting animals and birds to cruelty during the festival period.
After hearing both the sides and perusing the judgments of other courts in Jallikattu case and the Tonga Race case, the bench passed the above order. The copies of the order would be sent to the concerned authorities for its implementation.
Last year, another division bench directed that the decision taken by the state government to prevent cock fighting with bettings etc. has to be implemented meaningfully.