Tamil Nadu seeks Supreme Court review of jallikattu ban

New Delhi: With the Centre still dithering on issuing ordinance to permit jallikattu (taming the bull), the Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court seeking review of the May 7, 2014 judgment banning the sport in the State.

Sources told this newspaper that though the review petition was filed as early as May 19, 2014 it was not numbered by the Registry citing certain defects. As a result it was not listed for hearing before the appropriate bench. With Pongal fast approaching, the State cured the defects and the matter is now ready for listing shortly.

T. Rajesh, the prime coordinator of 'Veera vilaiyaattu meetppu kalagam', a group of individuals organised for the retrieval of traditional and adventurous sports of Tamils, has also filed a petition seeking review of the jallikattu ban. He said the court failed to consider that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, gives rights to one community to kill cows and bulls as part of their religious rights. Yet now Hindus are being denied the right to use our own bulls for "Eru-Thazhuvuthal" (Jallikattu) and other religious festivals which is manifestly discriminatory under the Constitution.  

The State, in its petition, said the apex court has erred in striking down the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act on the ground that it is repugnant to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It is the contention of the State Government that Jallikattu need not be banned and it can be regulated. It said Jallikkattu is a religious and cultural festival / sporting event which bears a religious significance to the people of Tamil Nadu. Each and every event of Jallikattu is conducted during the Pongal festival and subsequent festivals conducted in temples.

The State said the people of Tamil Nadu, without any distinction of caste and creed, celebrate Jallikattu as a religious festival / sporting event for more than 500 years. The said Jallikattu traces its origin to Indus Valley Civilisation and from 2008 Jallikattu is being conducted in the State under strict supervision of the state government.

The state government is duty bound and is ever willing to conduct the event with strict regulations, but does not want the event to be completely banned. On the injury or suffering allegedly being caused to the bulls, the State said the court failed to note the specific statement of the State that as a matter of culture and common behaviour, bull owners who train bulls for Jallikattu are very emotionally attached to the bull and cannot allow or tolerate any harm being caused to the bulls. These bulls are reared for the specific purpose of participation in the Jallikattu events being conducted during Pongal festival. It is a common refrain among the villagers in Tamil Nadu that bulls and other cattle are part of their family. The Court has totally overlooked this heritage and culture which is prevailing in the State for ages.

As far as the violence/ cruelty to animals is concerned, the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals Act provides for prosecution of the offenders. Further, the State has put in place regulatory measures such as registration of the trained animals (bulls), medical examination of the bulls by qualified veterinary doctors before the commencement of the events.  The safety of the spectators, bulls and bull tamers has also been ensured by prescribing the distance norms between the sporting arena and the spectator's gallery by erection of wooden barricades of sufficient height to prevent the bulls from rampaging into the crowd.

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