Amid protests, ruling on Jallikattu delayed
More than 10,000 protesters were holding demonstrations at Chennai’s Marina Beach
In view of the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court yesterday agreed not to pass a ruling on whether to lift a ban on traditional bull taming sport ‘Jallikattu’, as requested by the central government, for next seven days.
With more than 10,000 protesters holding demonstrations at Chennai’s Marina Beach in support of Jallikattu, the Supreme Court judges were told by the lawyers representing the central government that the verdict, due yesterday, could create a law and order problem.
They also informed the apex court that the central government was working with the Tamil Nadu state government to find a solution to the issue.
Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi told Justice Dipak Misra that it would be appropriate if the judgement was delivered after at least a week.
“The Centre and the state are in talks to find a way out in the matter and our request is that the court should not deliver the judgement for at least a week,” Rohatgi told the court bench.
For hundreds of thousands of people in Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu is an integral part of their culture, held during the harvest festival of Pongal.
Animal activists, however, feel the bulls are tortured and abused.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM) O. Panneerselvam yesterday Jallikattu will return to the state in a couple of days through an ordinance or executive order that he has sent for the President’s approval. He urged people to end their protest.
Protesters vow not to leave
Once the executive order is approved by President Pranab Mukherjee, it will be passed by the governor of Tamil Nadu. The order includes provisions to prevent cruelty to bulls, who are wrestled by young men in an open field.
But the protesters said they would not leave Marina Beach until a formal order removing the ban on Jallikattu was issued.
Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening and discussed the issue. Modi told him that the centre would be unable to bring an ordinance as the matter was in court.
Panneerselvam consulted lawyers in Delhi on the option of the state government passing an ordinance to bypass the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu.
Meanwhile, top actors from the Tamil Nadu film industry such as Rajnikanth and Dhanush joined protests in favour of Jallikattu yesterday. Music composer and singer A.R. Rahman was fasting for a day in support of the sport.
Protesters are also now demanding a ban on animal rights organisation PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which had lobbied to ensure ban on Jallikattu.
The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu in 2014 on a petition by PETA activists.
The court later rejected a Tamil Nadu petition seeking a review of its decision and last year also stayed a notification by the centre allowing Jallikattu. It has finished hearing that case and said it will give a verdict soon.