Wednesday, June 4, 2014

HC wants govt to kill cockfights

The cock fight, which is being conducted in the state for centuries
together, is facing the danger of being banned after Madras High Court
suggested to the government to prohibit cock fight.

After hearing a petition by one Kannan seeking a court order directing
state government, director general of police and police commissioner
of Madurai to grant permission to conduct cock-fight during the
festival of Arulmigu Muniyandi Temple at Virattipatthu in Madurai,
Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice S Vaidyanathan suggested the
government to prohibit cock-fight while dismissing the petition.

Declining to grant permission to conduct cock-fight after Supreme
Court prohibited Jallikattu, the judges observed that the court is not
only the custodian of rights of the citizens but also rights of
“voiceless non-humans”.

“The pleasure derived from the suffering of a poor bird is nothing but
human perversion. Brutality, torture, cruelty would pave the way for
the children to enjoy violence. There is a possibility of youth being
mislead psychologically that the suffering, brutality, pain and sorrow
are normal in life and it would make them to become cruel during the
lifetime,” the court observed.

“In ancient times, people would not have much entertainment and
therefore the animal fights and bird fights would have provided then
needed fun and enjoyment. Now much water has flown under the bridge.
Many comforts and entertainment have become essential part of life,”
the court stated.

The judges also stated that though Section 11 (1) (a) of the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act prohibits subjecting of animals
to unnecessary pain or sufferings, cock fight is not banned in our
country.

“Many of the countries like United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, France
and in almost all the states of US cock-fight is banned. The
government has to take appropriate steps to declare cock-fight illegal
following the judgement of Supreme Court banning Jallikattu,” the
judges added.

No comments:

Post a Comment