Like Jalli Kattu cockfights are also a great sport in Telugu states. Lakhs will be at stake in the form of gambling and people from Telangana go to AP for gambling at the cockfights. Lakhs are kept as stakes and it is a business of hundreds of crores here for the Sankranthi festival.
There were complaints against this sport as it was leading to gambling in a big way, but no authority so far could stop this. This has been happening since ages and people would love to continue this.
In an appeal filed against the order prohibiting cockfights (PIL 320/2014), the Hon’ble Supreme Court refused to stay the ban on cockfights.
Barring directive number 4 which authorizes the joint inspection teams to enter any premises and seize roosters intended to be used for cockfights, the full judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, remains operative.
However, as per the order of the Honorable High Court at Hyderabad, the joint inspection teams shall be constituted and shall, with support from the district administration, prevent cockfights and seize instruments to be used for cockfights as well money intended for betting.
Cockfights, with or without knives remains prohibited by this order and by Section 11(1)(m)(ii) & (n) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Further, strict action against organizers & participants of cockfights and disciplinary action against erring officials to be complied.
Earlier the Hyderabad high court on Monday upheld the ban on cockfighting, directing the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to ensure that no cockfights take place during the Sankranti festival in January.
The court extended the ban on cockfights throughout the year and not just during the Sankranti festivities, the period during which a large number of people take part in the ‘sport’ in the name of tradition.
The HC ruling comes against the backdrop of a growing clamour in Tamil Nadu against the ban on the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu.
Cockfighting is a blood sport, during which razor-sharp blades are tied to the claws of two rosters. They are then made to fight each other to death while people place bets on them. The cockfighting betting ring in Andhra Pradesh often runs into crores.
The common HC for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana passed the orders on the petitions filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India, Humane Society International (HSI), India, and People for Animals.
