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No cockfights, rules High Court
Terming the holding of cockfights and associated gambling/betting as illegal activities, the High Court at Hyderabad has given specific directions to the Andhra Pradesh government to ensure that cockfights are not held during the Sankranthi festival season.
Lawmakers told to keep away from betting
Hyderabad: Terming the holding of cockfights and associated gambling/betting as illegal activities, the High Court at Hyderabad has given specific directions to the Andhra Pradesh government to ensure that cockfights are not held during the Sankranthi festival season.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A Shankar Narayan, on Monday pronounced a judgment on a Public Interest Litigations (PIL) filed by N Jagadish Kumar, a social activist and president of the Bird Lovers Association of India against organising cockfights in West Godavari district. He assailed the inaction of the state government and sought directions from the court to prevent this activity.
Senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy argued on behalf of the petitioner. The High Court directed all the District Collectors of Andhra Pradesh, more particularly of West Godavari, East Godavari, Krishna and Guntur to constitute joint inspection teams, for each mandal in their respective districts, consisting of a police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police, the Tahsildar and a representative of either the Animal Welfare Board of India or a member of an NGO or persons involved in prevention of cruelty to animals by January 7.
Two constables and a photographer shall assist each of these inspection teams. These teams must tour all villages in their mandal and identify playgrounds/cock-pits where such events are proposed to be held. The District Collectors/SPs must take immediate action to ensure such cockfights are not held, if need be, by exercising powers under Section 144 Cr P C.
The joint inspection teams are authorised to enter any such fields, seize instruments used or intended to be used as also money which may have been collected towards betting at such events. If necessary, the District Collectors/SPs must organise village level meetings to inform the general public of the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the need for its effective implementation.
The High Court also took serious note of participation of people’s representatives in such events saying, “It does not augur well for the rule of law, as breaking of law by the lawmakers themselves would only breed contempt for the rule of law, and embolden others to violate the law with impunity.”
While disposing of this PIL, the High Court reserved for order on another related PIL filed by Animal Rescue Organisation, Kakinada on February 6. The District Collectors/SPs have been directed to file individual reports regarding the action taken by them to prevent cockfights and betting by January 31.
