The Supreme Court on Friday agreed not to pronounce its verdict on Jallikattu for one week in the wake of large scale protests in Tamil Nadu against the ban on the bull-taming sport.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar agreed to put the pronouncement on hold on a plea by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who told the court that "cultural passions" were running high in the state.
With thousands of protestors, predominantly Tamils, holding demonstrations at Chennai's Marina Beach, judges were told that a verdict, due today, could create a law and order problem.
Earlier today, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said that the state government will promulgate a special Ordinance in the Assembly to pave way for smooth conduct of the sport in two days.
Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister also urged the agitators to withdraw protests, hinting ‘Jallikattu will possibly be conducted in a day or two’.
“Had detailed discussion with constitutional experts regarding amendments to be enacted on Jallikattu law by the state. The Tamil Nadu government has dispatched a draft of amendment to MHA this morning. I believe that the draft will be approved in 1-2 days which will pave way for Jallikattu,” he said.
To take up the draft of the amendment further with the Central government, the CM has deputed senior officials from the state to work with Centre.
“There are full chances that Jalikattu will be organised within 1-2 days, therefore we urge protesters to withdraw immediately,” Panneerselvam added.
The development comes a day after Prime Minister Narnedra Modi told the CM that his government cannot promulgate an ordinance to revoke a ban on Jallikattu since the matter was sub-judice. He, however, had extended full support to the state government’s steps to hold the sport while adhering to certain dos and don'ts to address the element of cruelty.
The protests across the state intensified yesterday after PM Modi’s refusal to intervene into the matter. Around a lakh of youth gathered to protest in Chennai's Marina beach and also across the state and support for them is swelling.
Associations representing truckers, retailers, private taxi operators and schools have announced that they will not work on Friday. State government employees have decided to take out a procession. The movie industry has cancelled shooting and theatre halls would remain closed on Friday.
Opposition DMK has said that it will hold protests on rail tracks across the state.
Party’s working president MK Stalin termed the situation as ‘abnormal' and urged Panneerselvam to call an all-party meeting as well as a special assembly sitting.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, who was detained in Delhi for protesting outside the Prime Minister's residence, in a statement said that his party will hold Jallikattu on Republic Day on January 26 in case the Centre failed to promulgate an ordinance to facilitate the hugely popular sport.
The Supreme Court in May 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including in bullock-cart races.
Since then, people have been urging the central government to take steps to allow the sport. The common complaint among the protest leaders was that the Supreme Court had insulted Tamil culture by disallowing the traditional sport observed during the harvest festival of Pongal.
In Jallikattu, a bull vaulter is expected to hang on to the animal's hump for a stipulated distance or hold on to the hump for a minimum of three jumps made by the bull. The sport is traditionally held as part of the four-day Pongal festival in the state.
