Sports is a state subject: A-G
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday suggested a way out of the jallikattu impasse by opining that the Tamil Nadu Government has “all powers” to bring a new legislation to allow the sport that should also take into account concerns expressed by the Supreme Court and animal rights activists.
As protests in Tamil Nadu for conduct of the sport gained momentum, Mr Rohatgi said since sports fall within the domain of state, the state legislature has all powers to enact a law though the Supreme Court struck down a similar act enacted by it a few years ago.
Mr Rohatgi also clarified that the Union Government has not asked for his opinion on whether the Centre can bring an ordinance on allowing jallikattu. He also said he was “voicing his opinion” to the media without being asked to do so by anyone.
“I am not ruling out anything. No body in the Central Government has asked my opinion on the issue and I have not given anything in written to the Government. I am speaking to the media on my own,” he said, when asked whether he was ruling out an ordinance by the Centre.
The A-G’s comments came hours after the Prime Minister openly expressed the Union Government’s inability in bringing an ordinance.
“The Constitution of India has demarked areas for the parliament and state legislatures to enact laws. Sports fall within the domain of the state, while cruelty to animals fall in the domain of the Centre,” Mr Rohatgi said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday declined to intervene in the protests by thousands of students and others on the Marina beach in Chennai urging the Centre to lift the ban on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.