- Topic: State Legislation / Culture & Tradition / Animal Welfare
- Date of Event: November 27, 2025
- Legislative Body: Assam Legislative Assembly
- State: Assam
1. Overview of the Legislation
- Bill Name: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Assam Amendment) Bill, 2025.
- Objective: To exempt the traditional buffalo fight, locally known as “Moh-Juj,” from the purview of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
- Status: The bill was passed unanimously by the Assam Assembly.
- Core Change: It amends the central act (in its application to Assam) to define “Moh-Juj” as a traditional event rather than an act of cruelty, provided it is held under government-notified conditions.
2. Cultural Context: What is Moh-Juj?
- Identity: A traditional buffalo fight organised as a folk sport.
- Timing: Celebrated annually during Magh Bihu (the harvest festival in mid-January).
- Key Location: The most famous fights occur at Ahatguri in the Morigaon district, as well as in Sivasagar and other Upper Assam districts.
- Significance: Considered an intrinsic part of Assamese heritage, believed to demonstrate the strength of the animals and ensure the continuance of native buffalo breeds.
3. Legal Background & Necessity
- Supreme Court Precedent (2014): In Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja, the SC banned animal races and fights (like Jallikattu), stating they violated the 1960 Act.
- Gauhati High Court (2024): In December 2024, the High Court quashed a state government Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that had tried to allow the fights, citing conflict with the central law.
- The “Jallikattu Model”: To bypass the court ban, Assam followed the legislative route taken by Tamil Nadu (for Jallikattu) and Karnataka (for Kambala). By amending the central law (which is on the Concurrent List) and receiving Presidential assent, states can legalise specific cultural practices.
4. Key Provisions of the Bill
- Exemption: Conduct of Moh-Juj will strictly not be treated as an offence under the cruelty laws if held on notified dates/places.
- Regulation: The government will frame rules to ensure the safety of animals (e.g., banning intoxicants or sharp weapons).
- Bulbul Fights: While the focus was on buffaloes, the discourse often includes traditional Bulbul bird fights (held at Hayagriva Madhav Temple, Hajo), which have faced similar legal hurdles.
5. Critical Concepts for Exams
| Concept | Explanation |
| Concurrent List | “Prevention of cruelty to animals” falls under Entry 17 of the Concurrent List, meaning both Center and State can legislate. However, a State amendment needs Presidential assent to prevail over Central law. |
| Article 29(1) | Protects the right of citizens to conserve their distinct culture/script/language (often used to justify cultural sports). |
| Article 51A(g) | A Fundamental Duty of every citizen to have compassion for living creatures (often cited by activists like PETA against these sports). |
6. Potential Exam Questions
- Direct Question: Which state assembly passed a bill in 2025 to exempt the traditional “Moh-Juj” from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act?
- (Answer: Assam)
- Culture: “Moh-Juj” is a traditional sport associated with which Indian festival?
- (Answer: Magh Bihu)
- Polity: Under which list of the Indian Constitution does “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” fall?
- (Answer: Concurrent List)