SC grants stay on seizure of cocks by cops

​New Delhi: The CJI bench headed by Chief Justice J S Keher here on Friday ruled the police seizure of cocks being raised for cock fight illegal and stayed it.

After hearing the arguments of the petitioners, Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju (BJP leader) and Oleti Raju, seeking a stay on the High Court ruling which banned the cock fights during Sankranti in the State,

the bench said it was not proclaiming a stay on the HC order itself, but was staying the police action of taking into the custody the birds. Earlier, the High Court had ruled against the cock-fight.

The petitioners said the police had seized the “specially bred cocks” from the houses of those rearing it illegally and produced proof of the Act.

Senior Counsel Adinarayana argued on behalf of the petitioners that it was wrong to call the game or sport a fight as it was not a 'cock fight' at all and the game of these birds was a cherished chapter of the Telugu culture.

Animal Welfare Board lawyer, Anjali Sharma, told the court that it was a common practice in the coastal areas of AP to organise such cock fights which harmed the birds ultimately. It amounted to cruelty, she said.

The Bench issued notices to respondents- AP Government and the Board - to reply in four weeks to the concerns raised by the petitioners.