New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Thursday pronounce its verdict on petitions challenging Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra government laws allowing bull-taming sport ‘Jallikattu’ and bullock cart racing. A five-judge constitution bench of Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar will pronounce the verdict. The Tamil Nadu government had defended the conduct of ‘Jallikattu’ and told the apex court that sports events can be cultural events as well and there is no cruelty to bulls in ‘Jallikattu’.
“It is a misconception that an activity, which is in the nature of a sport or recreation or entertainment, cannot have cultural value,” the state had said. Countries such as Peru, Colombia and Spain consider bullfighting as part of their cultural heritage, with the Tamil Nadu government arguing that the bulls involved in ‘Jallikattu’ are tamed by farmers throughout the year.
SC seeks clarification from Tamil Nadu
Earlier, the top court had asked the Tamil Nadu government whether in bull-taming sports like Jallikattu, any animal can be used for human entertainment and how the sport was necessary for the conservation of the indigenous breed of bulls. The Tamil Nadu government had stated in its affidavit that Jallikattu “is not merely an act of entertainment or fun but an event of great historical, cultural and religious importance”.
Jallikattu – a popular bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu
Jallikattu is conducted during the Pongal festival as a thanksgiving for a good harvest and is followed by festivals in temples, indicating that the event has cultural and spiritual significance.
In February 2018, the Supreme Court referred to a constitution bench whether the people of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra can preserve Jallikattu and bullock cart races as their cultural right and seek their protection under Article 29(1) of the Constitution. Are.
The apex court had earlier said that the petitions challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017 needed to be decided by a larger bench as they involved substantial questions relating to interpretation of the Constitution.
It had said that a larger bench would decide whether states have the “legislative competence” to enact such laws, including Jallikattu and bullock cart races under cultural rights under Article 29(1) and constitutionally can be preserved.
Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra had amended the central law, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and allowed Jallikattu and bullock cart races, respectively. A petition was filed in the apex court challenging the state laws.
PETA challenges law allowing Jallikattu
A group of petitioners led by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sought a direction to repeal the ‘Jallikattu’ law passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, which brings bulls back into the fold of “performing animals”. .
PETA had challenged the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill 2017, passed by the state assembly, on several grounds, including setting aside the apex court’s verdict declaring the sport of bull taming “illegal” in the state. Was.
The top court had earlier dismissed the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking review of its 2014 decision banning the use of bulls in Jallikattu events in the state and bullock cart races across the country.