PETA is advocating for the prohibition of two traditional practices in Assam

Context: In a recent development, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organisation has taken legal action by initiating a lawsuit against the longstanding traditions of buffalo and bulbul fighting in the Gauhati High Court.

Details about the news:

• PETA India has filed two related petitions with the Gauhati High Court to ban certain activities and prevent any fights from occurring during the legal proceedings.
• PETA conducted investigations in Ahatguri and Hajo this year.
• In Ahatguri, owners mistreated buffalos by slapping, pushing, jabbing, and striking them, as well as pulling them roughly by nose ropes to provoke fights.
• Many buffalos sustained injuries during the fights, which only ended when one buffalo managed to escape.
• In Hajo, bulbuls were illegally captured and coerced into fighting over food, going against their natural instincts.

Buffalo and Bulbul fights: 

• Buffalo and bulbul fights are a traditional and cultural aspect of the Assamese winter harvest festival called Magh Bihu.
• This festival takes place in January, coinciding with similar harvest festivals in other regions of India.
• Buffalo fights are held in various locations throughout Assam, with the largest centre being Ahatguri in the Nagaon district.
• Bulbul fights, on the other hand, are a popular attraction at the Hayagriv Madhab Mandir in Hajo near Gauhati.

Current status of both fights:

• A court has recently heard a petition by the petitioner who informed that there was some plan to organise a fight by the buffaloes outside of the time frame year as prescribed by the government.
• The court remarked that holding a buffalo fight after January 25 would probably be a contravention of the government’s regulations.
• It recommended the petitioners to communicate the details to the concerned district office which will act accordingly based on the standard operating procedures.

Discussions of animal sports in India: 

• Some of the sports in India, including Jallikattu, Cockfight, Kambala, Bear dance as well as monkey dance, have raised issues related to animal welfare.
• The other side claims that this kind of activity is an example of animal cruelty without any need.
• On the contrary, the other side of the debate states that these sports have strong cultural value and the animals are also nurtured with love and affection and are sometimes considered as a member of the family.

Laws concerning animals in India:

• If any animal is mistreated or subjected to cruelty in any way specified under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the offender will be fined.
• The Indian Constitution considers the protection of animals as a fundamental duty.
• The Centre enacted the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and there are also state-level legislations regarding the prohibition of cow slaughter and protection of cattle.
• The Indian Penal Code has sections that punish acts of cruelty towards animals.
• The allocation of matters related to animal rights is divided between the State and Concurrent List, with states having the power to preserve and protect animals in the State List, and both the Centre and states having the power to legislate on the prevention of cruelty to animals and protection of wild animals and birds in the Concurrent List.

Conclusion: 

• The legal challenges on the buffalo and bulbul fights in Assam represent the challenging dilemma on the balancing of cultural values and animal rights.
• Although there are Supreme Court interventions and government directives, cruelty is an ongoing issue.
• PETA efforts acknowledge the focus on cultural legacy and animal rights alongside evolving laws.

Source: Indian Express

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