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Jallikattu
A Supreme Court Bench observed that even if Jallikattu is considered a sport, it is a cruel sport and is prohibited by the law. The court felt that it is a constitutional obligation for humans to show compassion to animals, and posted the matter for further hearing on November 16.
A Supreme Court Bench observed that even if Jallikattu is considered a sport, it is a cruel sport and is prohibited by the law. The court felt that it is a constitutional obligation for humans to show compassion to animals, and posted the matter for further hearing on November 16. It may be recalled that despite a ban imposed by the apex court in 2014, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had on January 7 this year allowed the sport to take place. The top court, which subsequently put a stop to it. Jallikattu is the famous bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu.
The State government is pleading before the apex court to lift the ban on the sport. But the Bench in its latest observation said that, “Bulls can't he used as entertainment for human beings. It violates law on cruelty and principles of constitution... in this modern world of computers, it is better to play Jallikattu on computer." The Court pointedly asked the Centre how it could permit Jallikattu where bulls are subjected to rough treatment and used for entertainment when the Constitution has provisions to protect cows.
Jallikattu is held in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day. Bulls are bred specifically by people of the village for the event and attended mainly by many villages' temple bulls (koil kaalai). A temple bull is like the head of all cattle in a village; special rituals will be performed for this temple bull during important days. During the event, prizes are announced to encourage the youth to participate. After the event, tamed weak bulls are used for domestic activities and agriculture, meanwhile the untamable strong bulls are used for breeding the cows. It is said to be ingenious where both sport and preservation of Ecosystem works well together.
Jallikattu has been known to be practised during the Tamil classical period. It was common among the ancient people aayars who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Animal activists and PETA India have protested against the practice over the years. Along with human injuries and fatalities, sometimes bulls themselves sustain injuries which people believe as bad omen for the village, according to Wikipedia.
