New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that the ban on cock fights in Andhra Pradesh during Sankranti, imposed by the Hyderabad High Court, would continue till the HC disposed of the matter afresh.

Acting on public interest litigation, the High Court had banned cock fight on the ground that it violated the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The present appeal by Mr K. Ragh Rama Krishna was directed against this order. A Bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.K. Sikri had on January 8, asked counsel for Andhra Pradesh, Mr Guntur Prabhakar, to inform the court on Monday whether any government order had been passed in the state banning cock fights.

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On Monday the Supreme Court was informed that no such order had been passed by the state government. Senior counsel Mr Anoop Chaudhry, appearing for one of the petitioners, contended that the Hyderabad High Court had passed the order without giving opportunity to all parties.

Meanwhile the Animal Welfare Board has impleaded itself in the matter. Taking note of the submissions, the Bench set aside the order passed by the Hyderabad High Court and remanded the petitions for a fresh hearing in the light of the judgement pronounced by the apex court banning Jallikattu and bullock cart races in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.