Supreme Court allows Jallikattu, upholds amendment passed by Tamil Nadu
2 min read . Updated: 18 May 2023, 11:43 AM IST
PremiumThe Supreme Court has upheld the Tamil Nadu law allowing bull taming sport Jalikattu.
The Supreme Court has allowed the event of Jallikattu and upheld the amendment passed by Tamil Nadu. The apex court also upheld the laws passed by Karnataka and Maharashtra providing for Kambala and bull-cart race.
The SC held that these amendments had minimised cruelty to animals by providing additional safeguards and do not violate the 2014 judgment or provisions of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court directed the district authorities to strictly enforce the safeguards provided in the laws.
According to SC, the conclusion that Jallikattu is “not part of cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu" was wrongly decided in the 2014 decision.
“We will not disrupt the view of the legislature and since legislature has taken a view that it is part of the cultural heritage of the state. In the preamble it is declared as a part of culture and heritage of Tamil Nadu," Bar & Bench quoted the apex court as saying.
Justice Aniruddha Bose said, “Jallikattu is a type of bovine sport and is going on in Tamil Nadu since last century, bull is left free in an arena. Whether it is integral to Tamil culture requires social analysis and cannot be undertaken by the judiciary. Whether it is to preserve cultural heritage is subject of debate and not subject of judicial enquiry. It needs to be debated in the house of people."
Farm fresh grass rolls, a big bucket full of rice bran and husk of black and red gram with plenty of water: these are among the 'delicacies' that figure in the 'special diet plan' for bulls that are being trained for the bull taming sport, Jallikattu.
A big pack of hay and fodder made of cotton seed and corn are part of the other items of food provided to bulls. Such food items, neatly divided into 'three square meals' a day are provided to bulls in the morning, afternoon and evening. Sundaravalli, a cowherd with hands-on experience in cattle farming says the diet plan is designed to ensure nutritious food to bulls.
"We provide nutritious food at all times. However, now we go the extra mile to ensure nutrition as Jallikattu is nearing and bulls need to be physically more strong." "The first full meal is at 9.30 AM when we provide a full, big bucket of rice bran and a roll of hay," she says.
(With PTI inputs)