Madras High Court Upholds Ban on Cock Fights for Entertainment

Court Dismisses Petition, Asserts Compliance with Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

In a significant judgment, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, presided over by Justice G.R. Swaminathan, has reinforced the prohibition on organizing cock fight events purely for entertainment, dismissing the writ petition filed by M. Muventhan. The petitioner sought permission to organize a cock fight event, which was contested under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The court's decision emphasized that organizing animal fights, including cock fights, violates Section 11(1)(m)(ii) and (n) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. These sections clearly prohibit the incitement of animals to fight for entertainment purposes. The court highlighted that the statutory definition of "animal" includes birds, thus extending the Act's provisions to cock fights.

Justice Swaminathan referred to the 2014 decision by a Division Bench in S. Kannan v. Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, which interpreted the term "animal" to include birds, supporting the prohibition of such events. The court noted that a circular memorandum from the Director General of Police dated August 28, 2025, aligned with this legal stance by forbidding cock fights.

The petitioner had relied on previous orders that seemingly permitted such events. However, Justice Swaminathan clarified that those were inconsistent with the Division Bench's decision and the statutory mandate, and thus could not be followed.

Further, the court acknowledged the Supreme Court's ability under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant exceptions, as seen in a previous case allowing conditional cock fights in Telangana. However, such discretionary powers are not available to High Courts, and cultural status cannot be conferred on cock fights in Tamil Nadu without specific legislation akin to the Jallikattu amendment of 2017.

Concluding the judgment, Justice Swaminathan dismissed the writ petition, stating that the petitioner had no legal right to conduct the event as it is explicitly prohibited by law.

Bottom Line:

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 - Cock fights - Organizing cock fight events solely for entertainment purpose is prohibited under Section 11(1)(m)(ii) and (n) of the Act - Statutory mandate must be followed and events involving animal fights cannot be permitted without specific legislative provisions.

Statutory provision(s): Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 Sections 11(1)(m)(ii), 11(1)(n), 2(a); Constitution of India, 1950 Articles 142, 29.

M. Muventhan v. District Collector, (Madras)(Madurai Bench) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2797549