Hyderabad High Court bans cock fights, warns politicians

Hyderabad High Court bans cock fights, warns politicians HYDERABAD: Sounding a note of caution to politicians not to endorse the `inhuman cock fights' with their open participation in such unlawful events during the Sankranti season, the Hyderabad High Court on Monday banned cock fights and all activities associated with it. This practice, that is also linked to discreet betting that evaporate the

assets of several families overnight, is prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the four districts of East Godavari, West Godavari , Krishna and Guntur. The HC directed the district collectors of these four districts to constitute, by January 7, 2017, joint inspection teams for each mandal that should comprise an SI, a tahsildar rank revenue officer, a representative from the animal welfare board or an NGO to identify the fields that are prepared for cock fights. Upon receiving informa tion from the inspection teams about such sites, the district collectors and SPs shall ensure that they are not used for cock fights and have the authority to even impose Section 144 of the CrPC to prevent large gatherings.

The bench of acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A Shankar Narayana after hearing public interest petitions filed by Narahari Jagadish Kumar, Animal Rescue Organisation and Birds Lovers Association of India that brought to the notice of the court that the holding of such cock fights would violate the whole spirit and every provision of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and also the AP Gaming Act, 1974. The Animal Welfare Board of India too joined the legal battle midway and opposed the conduct of these fights and decried the way the provisions of the law were ignored by the authorities. Writing the judgement for the bench, Justice Ramesh Ranganathan said officials were either unable or unwilling to ensure effective implementation of the law.They remained indifferent to the plight of these cocks and roosters which undergo unnecessary pain during the cock fight events. Finding fault with the authorities for not preventing cruelty to animals, the bench directed the authorities to constitute Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) in all AP districts by the end of January 2017.

Equipping the joint inspection teams with more powers, the bench said these teams are entitled to enter any premises to seize cocks and roosters. They can also seize the related instruments used or intended to be used for cock fights. They can also seize money meant for betting. The collectors and SPs of the four districts shall submit individual reports to the court about the action they have taken to prevent cock fights and betting by January 31, 2017, the bench said.