SC Strikes Down Plea To Stay Ban On Cockfighting

Cock fights, a part of Sankranti festivities in Andhra Pradesh, continue to remain banned as the Supreme Court today declined a hearing into the matter.

The Animal Welfare Board (AWB) moved the apex court to direct the AP State government to strictly implement its order on banning cockfights.

While a member of the National Animal Protection Committee complained in court that despite the HC's order prohibiting the "cruel" sport, the Counsel for the organizers contended that organizing cockfights was an age-old tradition in those districts and was being done each year during Sankranti.

He further argued that it was the basic instinct of the fowls to fight upon making eye contact. The advocate promised that there would be no violence as they would not tie knives to their legs. After hearing both sides, the SC observed that it couldn't pass immediate orders to stay the ban granted by the High Court, and adjourned the case.

As per reports, despite the High Court banning the sport, organizers in several coastal districts conducted it and gambled crores of rupees through it.

In related news, in Srinivasapuram of the West Godavari district, one Dayakar from Khammam opened three rounds in the air with his licensed revolver during one such cockfighting event.

As soon as the game began, the man from opened fire, sending the onlookers helter skelter. On receipt of information, the local police rushed to the spot and took the accused into custody and also seized his revolver.

Cockfighting is a popular sport in rural areas in which the fowls fight with each other with blades tied to their feet. Several animal rights groups and many among the general public condemned the sport, while many people from rural areas defended it arguing that it was part of an ancient culture.