Gauhati High Court Directs Nagaon District Admin To Take Effective Steps To Prevent Unauthorised Buffalo Fight Upon PETA's Representation

The Gauhati High Court recently directed the State government to look into a representation seeking to stop an event of buffalo fight (Moh-juj) which was scheduled to be held on February 04 in Assam's Hatigarh.

The development ensued in a writ petition filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India challenging a notification dated December 27, 2023 issued by the Assam Government by which it permitted buffalo fight at a specific time of a year to be completed within ten days succeeding Magh Bihu (i.e. from 15th to 25th January).

A bench of Justice Manish Choudhury was hearing an interlocutory application challenging the February 4 event, stating that despite the SOP/Guidelines laid down in the said notification which permits buffalo fight [Moh-juj] only during the period from 15 January to 25 January in a year events of buffalo fight [Moh-juj] are found to be organized in various parts of the State beyond the period.

PETA contended that notwithstanding the challenge to the legality and validity of the notification dated December 27, 2023 and assuming, that the SOP/Guidelines laid down in the said notification are treated to be valid, then also such event of buffalo fight [Mohjuj] which is being organized on February 04, 2024, at Hatigarh would be illegal.

The animal welfare organisation prayed for a direction to the respondents to take effective steps to prevent the concerned organisers from holding a buffalo fight [Moh-juj] on February 04, 2024, in terms of the SOP/Guidelines.

Agreeing, the Court observed,

“...the applicant-petitioner should bring such facts of holding of buffalo fight [Moh-juj] before the concerned District Administration, that is, the Deputy Commissioner, Nagaon first by way of a representation latest by tomorrow i.e. 02.02.2024. In the said representation, the applicant-petitioner shall mention the details of the event [like place, time, date, etc.] of the buffalo fight [Moh-juj] so as to enable the District Administration to take any effective steps. In the event such a representation is filed by the applicant-petitioner by tomorrow, the District Administration, Nagaon shall take steps to enquire into the same and upon enquiry, it is found that any event of buffalo fight [Moh-juj] is being organized on 04.02.2024, as asserted by the applicant-petitioner, effective steps should be taken in terms of the SOP/Guidelines/Notification dated 27.12.2023 for prevention of such buffalo fight [Moh-juj],” the Court said.

The matter is listed again on February 6.