Ensure illegal cockfights don't take place in state: Bombay High Court to government

The Bombay High Court has told the state government to ensure proper implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and to see to it that no events, including cockfights, take place in the state.

A division bench of justices SS Kemkar and MS Karnik directed the government to ensure that cockfights don't take place in the state and, if any such instances are found, action is taken against the event organisers.

The bench made these directions while disposing of a public interest litigation filed by an animal lover NG Jayasimha, who had brought to the court's notice a cockfight held in 2015 in a village in Ulhansnagar. Advocate Prakash Mahadik said that in 2014 they had moved court, seeking directions to the government for proper implementation of the Act and also sought that proper awareness be created among the public.

In December 2014, a vacation bench of justice Gautam Patel had stayed the event after organisers assured that they would not go ahead with it. On Wednesday too, the organisers assured the court that henceforth they would not organise such events; accordingly, the court accepted their statement.

The bench then disposed of the matter and asked the government to ensure proper implementation of the Act.