New Delhi: The Supreme Court today said it will hear all petitions in connection with the bull taming sport Jallikattu on January 31. A bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra and also comprising Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, said, 'We would hear all the petitions in connection with the Jallikattu on Tuesday.' Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi told the apex court that the Centre is filing an application to withdraw the January last year's notification in the issue and the hearing is likely to be on Tuesday.
AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) had challenged the Tamil Nadu government's amendment Act, saying that it was against the Apex court judgement which had banned the sport. Ms Anjali Sharma, the lawyer for AWBI, urged the Apex Court to hear the matter. The Supreme Court had earlier, on November 16 last year, rejected the plea of the Tamil Nadu government seeking review of the 2014 judgement which had banned the use of bulls for Jallikattu (festival) in the state. After hearing from various petitioners and respondents in the case, a division bench of the Top Court, headed by Justice Dipak Misra and also comprising Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, dismissed the state government's review petition.
The court in its order had said, "We are of the opinion that the review petition does not contain any merit and thus accordingly we dismiss it. " The state government had filed the review petition in the Apex Court in 2014 through its Chief Secretary, claiming that it was illegal and unconstitutional as the taming of bulls for such an event amounted to "cruelty". Jallikattu is a popular bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu involving bulls.
The moment the bull leaves the enclosure, it should be tamed within a radial distance of 15 meters and it should also be ensured that the bulls are put to proper testing by the concerned authorities of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department to ensure that they are in good physical condition to participate in the event. Jallikattu, in regional parlance known as Eruthazhuvuthal, is a popular bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations. (UNI)
