The Andhra Pradesh government has said that would take action against anyone who organized cock-fights during  Sankranthi festival this year.

On Thursday, the state government submitted an affidavit to the High Court during a hearing of a PIL filed by Jagadish Kumar, a native of West Godavari. The Court had directed the state government to submit an affidavit on what measures it would take to implement the ban on cock-fighting.

In 1960, government of India passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which prohibits cruelty to animals, prohibiting bullfighting, bullock-cart races and other sports involving animals.

Gambling and cock-fights are offences under The Prevention and Cruelty to Animals Act, the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, and Andhra Pradesh Towns Nuisance Act, 1889.

In the two Telugu states, however, cock-fighting has received patronage from powerful politicians, celebrities, students, corporates and businessmen, with massive bets placed on these fights. 

Around 1,347 instances of cock-fights and gambling were reported in the previous year.

NG Jayasimha, member of the Animal Welfare Board of India, told The News Minute that the board would monitor would also closely monitor the implementation of the prohibition according to the directive of the Supreme Court of India. He said he hoped the state government would ensure that no cock fights were organized and that offenders were penalised.

He added “Gambling is a offence, Sankranthi is a festival of harvest people can't spend their hard earned money on gambling and cock fighting.”

''Cock fighting is not cockfighting in fact there is a big mafia behind all this gambling and cock-fighting, gambling and  betting is ill-legal and not only that huge amount of Child labor is involved in all this. People use children for cleaning the dead or the injured bird and there is unrestricted sale of alcohol. We have also seen children selling alcohol, he added.