Centre allows bull-taming sport Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu

Ending the uncertainty over holding Jallikattu (bull taming) this year, the Modi government on Friday lifted the ban on the sport days before the traditional harvest festival begins in Tamil Nadu.

Union ministry of environment and forests headed by Prakash Javadekar issued a notification to this effect.

Bulls may be continued to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat in the manner by the customs of any community or practised traditionally under the customs or as a part of culture, in any part of the country subject to the conditions, the notification said.

“Such event shall take place in any district, where it is being traditionally held annually, at such place explicitly permitted by the district collector or the district magistrate, bullock cart race shall be organised on a proper track, which shall not exceed two kms. In case of Jallikattu, the moment the bull leaves the enclosure, it shall be tamed within a radial distance of 15 metre,” the notification said.

Reacting to the notification, Union minister for road transport and shipping and BJP senior leader Pon Radhakrishnan, who hails from Tamil Nadu, said: “We have to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Javedakar, BJP national president Amit Shah. I thank chief minister J Jayalalithaa, DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who dropped his plan to hold protests, reposing faith in me, DMDK leader Vijayakanth and all leaders. It is a victory for the joint effort. ”

Animal Welfare Board of India vice chairman S Krishna, however, said that lawyers are studying the Centre’s notification and action would be taken immediately. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said, adding, “We are disappointed that the government has ridden roughshod over such explicit directions of the Supreme Court,” he told TOI.

In its notification in 2011, Union environment and forests ministry categorised bulls in the list of animals which shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals, along with wild animals such as bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions. This notification was upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2014. The Tamil Nadu government immediately preferred a review petition before the apex court, which is still pending.

 

SOURCE: TOI