SC lifts 4 year ban on bull race in Maharashtra

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the four-year ban on bull race in Maharashtra on the same conditions and regulations as mentioned in the amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar lifted the ban.

The court said the validity of the Maharashtra amendments will be decided alongside those of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as the same amendments are pending before a Constitution bench since 2018.

The Bombay High Court in 2017 refused to lift its ban on bullock cart races in Maharashtra, saying they violated the PCA Act.

The bull races had been banned for the last four years in Maharashtra.

The apex court has held that since rules have been framed for "safe" race which would take into account the welfare of the animals, the Maharashtra ban cannot be sustained in light of earlier orders passed allowing Jallikattu in other states. (UNI)