IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND FOUR PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI DEVINDER GUPTA,THE CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.RAMULU WRIT PETITION NO : 6853 of 2001 Between: Mr.M.R.M.Chalapati Rao, Advocate, R/o 6-1-132/30, J.B.Apartments, Srinivasanagar, Skandagiri, Secunderabad – 61. ..... PETITIONER AND 1. The Govt. of A.P., rep. by Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2. The Collector, Guntur District, Guntur. 3. The Superintendent of Police, Guntur District, Guntur. 4. The Director General of Police, Govt. of A.P., Hyderabad. (R-4 is impleaded as per court order dated 15-4-2004 in WPMP No.8883 of 2004) .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction especially in the nature of writ of mandamus directing the respondents to take immediate steps to stop Ox races and competitions proposed to be held on 18-4-2001 at Kotappakonda Village, Guntur District and also all the Districts of the State in future years which are contrary to Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Articles 48 and 51 (A) (g) of the Constitution of India. Counsel for the Petitioner:SMT.C.JAYASREE SARATHY Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 and 2: GP FOR ANIMAL HUSBANDARY Counsel for the Respondent Nos.3 and 4: The GP FOR HOME. The Court made the following : ORAL ORDER: (per the Hon’ble the Chief Justice) ORAL ORDER: (per the Hon’ble the Chief Justice) The petitioner, an animal lover, striving for the cause of animals approached this court in this petition filed as Public Interest Litigation for taking steps to stop Ox Races and boulder dragging competitions. When petitioner learnt that such Ox races were fixed on 18th April, 2001 on State Level at Kotappakonda village, Guntur District, he filed this petition and an interim order was passed directing the respondents not to permit such races and competitions having regard to the decision of this court in W.P.No.4414 of 1987. In the said writ petition, it was held that conduct of ox races amounts to cruelty towards animals prohibited under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Our attention has been drawn by the learned counsel for the respondents to memo dated 22-5-2001 issued by the Additional Director (Production) Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Hyderabad, bringing to the notice of the Joint Directors in the State of such races, with request to look into the matter and stop the illegal practice of ox races and competitions with strict directions to implement the animal welfare Acts/rules scrupulously with the cooperation of animal welfare activists/organizations and prevent cruelty towards animals. In view of the stand taken by the learned counsel for the respondents, we make the interim order final and close this writ petition. ___________________ DEVINDER GUPTA, CJ 16-8-2004 _____________ C.V.RAMULU, J Tvr To 1. The Secretary, Govt. of A.P., Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2. The Collector, Guntur District, Guntur. 3. The Superintendent of Police, Guntur District, Guntur. 4. The Director General of Police, Govt. of A.P., Hyderabad. 5. 2 CCs to the Govt. Pleader for Anumal Husbandry, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT). 6. 2 CCs to the Govt. Pleader for Home, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad (OUT).