The controversy over Tamil Nadu’s traditional bull-taming sport Jallikattu just refuses to die down. Days after statewide protests forced the government’s hands to pass an ordinance allowing conduct of the controversial sport, animal rights activists today moved the Supreme court challenging the validity of the ordinance passed in the Tamil Nadu assembly permitting Jallikattu.
The Supreme Court has admitted the plea and said it will hear a batch of petitions filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and other bodies challenging the law on Monday, January 30.
Animal rights activists and the Animal Welfare Board have alleged that Centre and Tamil Nadu are trying to frustrate the 2014 Supreme Court verdict against animal cruelty, and thus, against Jallikattu.
They have contended before the court that the law framed by Tamil Nadu is illegal and unconstitutional, and want it quashed.
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said that in all likelihood a bench comprising of him and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman would hear the plea on Monday on the bull-taming sport that is held in the state during Pongal.
Misra also referred to Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi's mentioning on January 24, about an intent of the government to withdraw a January 7 notification permitting the ancient sport.
Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi also told the court that they have filed an application pointing out that the state law permitting Jallikattu was repugnant to the provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
While senior counsel C.A. Sundram told the apex court that they had nothing to do with the government decision to withdraw the 2016 notification as they made substantive prayers and had nothing to do with the withdrawal.
The apex court, which had reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the notification, had said that the concerned bench would take a decision on when the application of the Centre would come up for its consideration.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017 piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was unanimously adopted on January 23 by a voice vote in the assembly after a brief debate.
Nearly 70 caveats have been filed in the Supreme Court seeking prior hearing if pleas challenging the new legislation allowing Jallikattu in the state come up for consideration.
The caveats were filed a day after the AIADMK government moved the apex court seeking a prior hearing before any order is proposed to be passed in the matter.
On the other hand, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of reports on the ‘unprovoked police action’ during the Jallikattu protests within two weeks.
The public body, which is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, said that it has issued notices to Tamil Nadu government and the state police, and sought reports in the matter in two weeks.
