Gauhati High Court Issues Complete Ban On Buffalo & Bulbuli Bird Fights In Assam

The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday issued an order completely banning Buffalo and Bulbuli bird fights in the State of Assam.

Justice Devasis Baruah passed the order upon hearing the arguments of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which argued that the 2023 government notification which allowed these fights to take place, violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

It was further argued that the permission for these fights to go ahead also violated the Supreme Court's judgement in Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja (Jalikattu case).

Upon hearing the arguments of the petitioners, the court set aside the government notification and held:

Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 deals with the duty of persons having charge of animals...which is mandatory. Rights conferred on animals are the antithesis of a duty. If those rights are violated, the law will enforce those rights with legal sanction."

It was further held that, unlike other States, Assam had not made any amendments in the Prevention of Cruelty Act, but instead chose to override the Act, as well as the 1972 Act along with the Nagaraja judgement, which could not be allowed.

A detailed order is awaited. This story will be updated.

Case No: WP(C) / 981 / 2024

Case: PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS PETA INDIA vs THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 2 ORS.