Cockfights Are Illegal, Previous Orders Permitting Them 'Totally Unwarranted': Madras High Court

The bench of Justice CV Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel allowed a revision petition filed by the District Collector of Thanjavur and held that a previous order passed by a division bench of the court, which permitted the conduct of a cockfight subject to certain conditions, was unwarranted and contrary to law.

“In view of the fact that the Statute prohibits such an event from taking place, we would allow the review application and hold that the directions issued by the Division Bench are contrary to law and totally unwarranted and should not act as a precedent in any application seeking permission to conduct cock fight in future,” the court said.

In 2017, a resident of Pattukottai had filed a plea in the High Court seeking permission to conduct cock fight. The court was informed that every year his villagers used to conduct cock fight, a traditional game, but when permission for the same was sought for the year 2017, the authorities did not act upon it. The petitioner had also informed the court that in similar matters, the court had permitted conducting cock-fights, by imposing certain conditions.

The court had disposed of the plea by directing the authorities to permit cock-fight subject to conditions. The court had directed that the event shall be supervised by the Veterinary Doctor of the nearby Government Veterinary Hospital.

The court had also directed that while conducting the cock-fight, it should be ensured that no injury is caused to the birds, and they should not be intoxicated with any alcoholic substance. Further, the court said that knives should not be tied around the legs of the birds, with the tip of the knife dipped in poisonous substances. The court also directed the veterinary doctor to ensure the birds' safety before the event.

The District Collector, Superintendent of Police and the Inspector of Police had approached the court seeking a review of this order. It was contended that Sections 3(2), 11, and 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 prohibited cock-fights.

The court noted that, considering the statutory prohibition, the earlier directions issued by the bench were contrary to law. The court also made it clear that the earlier orders should not act as precedent in any application seeking permission to conduct cock-fights.

It may be noted that in 2023, the High Court had issued directions to ensure the safety of birds during cock-fights that were to be conducted in association with Pongal Celebrations. Later, in 2025, another bench of the court held that there was no legal right to conduct a cock fight as the Statute expressly prohibits an animal fight organised by humans.  

Counsel for Petitioner: M/s. S. I. Muthiah Addl. Government Pleader

Case Title: The District Collector and Others v G Manickam

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 411

Case No: Rev. Aplw.(MD)No.129 of 2026