The Madras High Court has questioned the authority of the Director General of Police (DGP) to issue a circular banning cockfighting across Tamil Nadu.
The issue arose from a petition filed by Arun Kumar of Erode, who sought permission to conduct cockfighting during temple festivals in Erode and Namakkal districts. He also asked the court to set aside the DGP’s circular issued in September 2025 imposing the ban.
Representing the government, counsel submitted that the circular was issued based on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and orders passed by the Madras High Court and its Madurai Bench. The government also sought time, citing that a related public interest litigation is pending before the Chief Justice’s bench.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan declined to grant time and questioned what power the DGP has to issue such a prohibition. The judge also remarked that the police have many duties and asked whether monitoring where cockfights and similar events take place should be their job.
The court directed the police to file a response and adjourned the matter to September 7.
