Chittoor Orders Total Ban on Cockfights Ahead of Sankranti

Overview

• Chittoor district announced a complete prohibition on cockfights with a warning of stringent legal action against anyone attempting to organize or enable events.
• Officials said police, revenue, animal husbandry and other departments are coordinating continuous surveillance to deter violations during the festival period.
• Authorities specified that organising, encouraging or facilitating cockfights, conducting betting and fixing blades or knives to roosters constitute punishable offences.
• Citing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and court directions including an Andhra Pradesh High Court reiteration in 2016, the administration framed the ban as enforcement of existing law.
• Humane World for Animals India urged people to refuse participation and report incidents, highlighting razor-blade fights to the death and links to illegal gambling, illicit liquor sales and child labour across several states.