Cockfighting, a special feature of Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh will remain banned not only on the occasion of the festival but throughout the year.
An order to this effect was issued by the Hyderabad High Court on Monday on a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India, Humane Society International/India and various other organisations.
These organisations have been strongly opposing the cockfighting on the ground of cruelty to animal and the fact that it also involved massive betting in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the occasion of Sankranti festival in January every year. The court ordered the Governments of both the Telugu States to ensure that no cockfighting takes place during Sankranti here onwards.
Despite the Government issuing ban order last year, the betting mafia had managed to organise the cock fighting at many places in the two States on Sankranti last year.
During the hearing of the petition on Monday the court suo moto amended the original petition extending the prohibition on cockfights wholly and not just during the period of Sankranti of 2017.
Highlighting the cruelty to the roosters the petitioners pointed out that they were fitted with razor sharp blades on their legs while they fight to death and the spectators put bets on them.
Welcoming the court orders NG Jayasimha, member, Animal Welfare Board of India, and managing director of Humane Society International/India said, “We are delighted that the Hyderabad High Court has upheld the ban on cockfighting. Cockfighting is not only cruel to animals but also encourages gambling and child labour. A practice that glorifies so many illegal activities should have no place in a civilised society.”
Gauri Maulekhi, Govern-ment affairs liaison for HSI/India, the implead petitioner in this matter stated, “We have largely ignored the social and economic repercussions of cockfighting. From betting on lives of animals to child labour and sale of illicit liquor, the ominous practise of cockfighting leaves every opportunity open to exploit humans and animals alike. We expect State to strictly follow the orders and ensure that people responsible for organising cockfighting are booked under the law. We encourage the public who witness any cockfight during the Sankranti or any other season to report the incident at their nearest police station or by calling the HSI/India tip line number at +917674922044.”
The petitioners also pointed out that the Section 11(1) and (n) of the Prevention of Cruelty to animal act makes inciting and organizing animal fights an offences.
The petition was filed in the Hyderabad High Court in 2014 seeking directions to the government of Andhra Pradesh to prevent cockfights. When the High Court upheld the ban, in 2015 a politician from Andhra Pradesh filed a Special leave Petition against the order of the High Court. The Supreme Court ordered a status quo and remanded the matter to the High Court.
In January 2016, the Government of Andhra Pradesh filed an affidavit on steps proposed to be taken for preventing cockfights. However, cockfights were being conducted across Andhra Pradesh and many places in Telangana.