A division bench of V M Kanade and Revati Mohite Dere was hearing two PILs filed by activists Lorenzo Standen and Gargi Gogai seeking stay on the January 7 notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest lifting the ban.
The petition stated that in several parts of Maharashtra bullock cart racing has already begun and the animals are ill-treated.
"Since the Supreme Court has already granted stay, it is not necessary for us (HC) to consider the reliefs claimed in these petitions before us," Justice Kanade said and posted the PILs for hearing on February 9.