Guwahati, Dec 17: The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday issued a ban on buffalo and bulbul bird fights in Assam, striking down a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the state government that permitted such events during specific times of the year.
The decision was delivered by a single-judge bench comprising Justice Devashis Baruah, who quashed the SOP dated December 27, 2023, which had allowed these fights to be held during the Bhogali Bihu festival.
The ban follows petitions arguing that the events violated animal protection laws, according to a press release from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
Legal Contraventions
The court ruled that the practices were in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, of 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The judgment also cited the 2014 Supreme Court ruling in the Animal Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nagaraja case, which banned all forms of animal fights.
PETA India presented extensive evidence of the cruelty inflicted on animals during these events stating that buffaloes were subjected to physical abuse, including being slapped, jabbed with sticks, and pulled by their nose ropes to force them into fights.
They also argued that many sustained injuries such as bleeding wounds on their necks, ears, and faces.
The PETA India submitted that bulbul birds, protected under Indian wildlife laws, were caught, drugged, and starved to provoke aggression. It further stated that harmful substances were reportedly administered to intoxicate the birds, making them fight for food during these events.
PETA’s investigations also revealed that the majority of fights occurred outside the dates specified in the SOP, further emphasizing their illegal nature. Speaking on the verdict, PETA India’s legal team, led by senior advocate Diganta Das, appreciated the decision as a critical step toward upholding animal rights and ensuring compliance with national laws.
