Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has sought a response from the Assam government within a stipulated time frame of three weeks on the alleged violation of its previous order on buffalo and bulbul fights in the state.
This directive came during the hearing of a second writ petition filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on February 25, accompanied by two fast information reports (FIRs), which claimed that buffalo fights were conducted in defiance of the court’s order.
A special bench led by Justice Manish Choudhury noted the inaction of state authorities despite the court’s previous intervention against such activities. Justice Choudhary emphasized that the court had already issued orders against buffalo fights, yet the state authorities remained inactive.
In an order dated March 4, Justice Choudhary stated, “The petitioner has presented certain facts suggesting that buffalo fights are still being conducted even after the court’s order dated 06.02.2024, and the authorities have not taken appropriate measures in this regard.” The court directed the state authorities to notify and ensure strict compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) and the court’s order issued on February 6, 2024.
The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on April 1, with the court granting the state respondents three weeks to file an affidavit.
Earlier in February, in response to PETA India’s plea for interim relief against traditional buffalo fight competitions permitted by the Assam government this year, the High Court had directed an immediate halt to “unauthorized buffalo fights,” stating that any buffalo fights held after January 25, 2024, were prima facie illegal. The court had emphasized that such fights contravened the SOPs issued by the state government.
During the March 4 hearing on the reports submitted by PETA, the court instructed the state to direct district administration authorities to adhere to the SOP.
The Assam government had permitted traditional buffalo and bulbul fights in the state this year, issuing an SOP in December of the previous year. These fights were conducted in certain areas during the Magh Bihu celebrations on January 15 and 16, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attending.
However, PETA filed a writ petition in early February before the High Court, alleging harm to animals and birds during these fights and terming the state government’s SOP a violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Advocate Diganta Das for PETA argued that the SOP was issued without amending the existing laws, violating the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, of 1960, and the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972. He highlighted that Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka had amended their state laws before issuing SOPs for such fights, which Assam had failed to do.
Representing the state, Advocate D Nath admitted during the February 6 hearing that the SOP allowed buffalo and bulbul fights for ten days, from January 15 to 25, in specific areas.
PETA lodged two FIRs in the Nagaon district on February 25, alleging that buffalo fights were conducted in violation of the court’s order, resulting in grievous injuries to buffalos, according to PETA India.
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