AP told to prevent cockfights

The High Court at Hyderabad has reiterated that Andhra Pradesh State government has to ensure that no cockfights are held in the State during this Sankrantri festival as per the court's earlier order on December 26, 2016.

It warned that the State government would be held responsible if cockfights and associated betting activity continues in violation of Court orders. It also stated that the bona fides of the authorities in implementing the court order would be tested during this festival season. It directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to file separate reports detailing the steps taken to prevent cockfights during this Sankrantri festival season.

The division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice G Shyam Prasad gave these directions on Thursday, while hearing the Public Interest Litigation petition filed by K Ramachandra Raju, seeking direction to the authorities to prevent rampant cockfighting, betting and other illegal activities during Sankrantri festival in two villages of Bhimavaram mandal in West Godavari district. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police submitted reports as per the orders of the court.

Andhra Pradesh Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas gave an undertaking to the court that the Chief Secretary and DGP would take necessary steps to implement the orders of the court. The bench directed the West Godavari District Collector to file additional affidavit detailing as to what action was taken against 43 Tahsildars and 49 Station House Officers in the district who did not act as per the Court's order in preventing cockfighting and betting activity. It warned that otherwise it would on its own implead those officers as respondents in the present petition.

The AG informed the bench that show-cause notices were issued and further details of action taken would be submitted to the court. The AP Government Pleader for Home Department informed the bench that Rs 9.2 lakh amount was seized in betting activity last year during Sankrantri. The bench expressed surprise at the low amounts seized when everyone reported that the betting amounts involved were over Rs 100 crore.

The Acting Chief Justice stated that he knew of the fact that people from Tirupati also went to West Godavari districts by tourist buses to participate in these cockfights and betting. He had also seen on TV how the court orders were openly flouted, and cockfights and betting went on. The bench warned that the officials would be held responsible if the orders are flouted this time and adjourned the case to January 29.