Hyderabad HC asking for the Politicians who Participated in Cockfighting

Despite the ban imposed by the courts on any kind of animal fights, Sankranti festival, from 13 to 15 January, in Andhra Pradesh saw illegal cockfights being organized at numerous locations with a number of influential personalities participating in it.

In a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, Hyderabad High Court (HC) asked the DGP and Chief Secretary (CS) of Andhra Pradesh the reason for organizing such fights throughout the state despite clear orders. 

The HC has asked the CS to give the manes of MLA's, MP's, sarpanchs and organizers who were involved in the traditional animal fighting sport. As stated by The Times of India, the court said: "If the state machinery is feeling helpless to deal with them, we will handle them."

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974 make cockfights illegal.

Earlier this month, dismissing an appeal by the BJP leader Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, the Supreme Court has ordered the government of Andhra Pradesh to seize the roosters and sustain the ban on cockfights. According to The Hans India, “Kakinada MP Thota Narasimham and Pithapuram MLA SVSN Varma participated in a cockfight as part of the Janmabhoomi Maa Vooru programme in the Pithapuram town.”

"In 2016, the High Court explicitly issued directives to the Government of AP to ensure cockfights are prevented. However, cockfights continue unabated, reportedly under the patronage of elected public representatives, whilst the state law enforcement agencies turn a blind eye to this lawlessness”, HSI said to The News Minute.

The next hearing is due after four weeks. 

In a country like India, where the word tradition and culture is strongly upheld by people of all groups, it is great to see the courts taking appropriate steps against the ones involved in illegal animal fighting in the name of tradition.

Like this?

Read? Pakistan to make Animal Abuse Illegal with this new Law

Read more? High Court asks Delhi Government to respond to Dairy Cattle Cruelty