No ban on cockfights in TN: DGP tells High Court

There is no ban on cockfights in Tamil Nadu and the circular issued by the Director General of Police (DGP) was intended only to regulate the events, the DGP’s counsel informed the Madras High Court.
R. Arunkumar of Erode had filed a petition before the Madras High Court seeking permission to conduct cockfights during temple festivals in Erode and Namakkal districts.
In his petition, he stated that the competitions were being conducted with adequate security arrangements and in accordance with the conditions imposed by the police.
He also submitted that there was no intention of gambling and that the birds were not subjected to
cruelty.
He therefore sought the quashing of the circular issued by the DGP regarding cockfights and a direction to permit the conduct of the competitions.
The case came up for hearing again before Justice V. Lakshminarayanan. In the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the DGP, it was submitted that the circular had been issued only to regulate cockfights in accordance with an order passed by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. It was also clarified that no ban had been imposed on cockfights.
Taking the submission on record, the judge directed that the police personnel be suitably informed about the contents of the DGP’s circular.
The judge also observed that since there was no ban on cockfights, the petitioner could approach the concerned police station and obtain permission.