Madras HC imposes conditions for cock fight during Pongal in TN

Chennai, Jan 10 (BPNS)

The traditional cock fight during the Pongal festival at Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu will be conducted following restrictions imposed by the Madras High Court on Tuesday.

 A division bench of the Madras High Court has directed the organisers of the cock fight to give an undertaking that they would follow the directives of the court. The judges passed the orders following a petition filed by M. Munuswamy of R.K. Pettai to direct the Superintendent of Police, Thiruvallur district to consider his application for conducting a cock fight on January 17,18 and 19 as part of the Pongal festival celebrations.

Justices V.V. Velumani and R. Hemalatha in the order said, “ During cock fight no injuries should be caused to the birds. Birds should not be intoxicated with any alcoholic substance and no knives should be tied around the legs of the birds, with the tip of the knives dipped in poisonous substances.”

The court also directed to provide police protection and asked the organizers to bear the expenses for the police protection. The division bench of the Madras High Court has also stated that veterinary doctors should ensure that no animal should be intoxicated.

The judges also directed that only owners of the cocks should be allowed to visit the premises of the cock fight and spectators should be given a separate place to watch the fight. The court warned the organizers not to allow any gambling at the event. It also banned communal songs being played during the  cock fight and also asked the organizers not to erect flex boards in support of the cocks.

The court also directed the police to take necessary action if there were any violations of the directives of the court.

It may be noted that in almost all villages of Tamil Nadu, cock fights are a major event in which blades and knives are tied to the legs of cocks and the cocks fight against each other. Often huge amounts are placed as bets for the winning cock and the court directive is a major blow to the organizers who are conducting the cock-fights.