New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday will take up a petition challenging an order of the High Court of judicature at Hyderabad directing the Andhra Pradesh authorities to ban cockfight sport in the state during the Sankranti festival on the ground that it violated the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

A Bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.K. Sikri told senior counsel Anoop Chaudhry, appearing for one of the petitioners, to inform the standing counsel of the state about this petition so that it could hear the matter on Friday.

Earlier, when counsel submitted that the cockfight sport being conducted for over a century was banned by the High Court, the CJI pointed out that the High Court had disposed of the public interest petition based on the submission of government pleader that the government had already passed an order to ban cockfight.

The CJI said it would be desirable to challenge the government order, if there was any and to ascertain the fact from the government sought the assistance of the standing counsel for the state.

The High Court said the police had been instructed to take action with regard to organising cockfights with betting, sale of liquor and gambling and subject animals and birds to cruelty during the Sankaranti festival.

The petitioner said cockfight was major festival in AP and it could not be banned without hearing the affected parties. He prayed for quashing the high court order and an interim stay of its operation.