Jallikattu ban removal: Tamil Nadu erupts in joy, animal welfare groups enraged

Chennai Even as Tamil Nadu erupted in joy as the central government on Friday announced its decision to allow the traditional Jallikattu or bull taming sport during the states Pongal festival the union governments decision to create an exception to the Supreme Court ban has enraged animal welfare groupsThe Animal Welfare Board of India AWBI is mulling the possibility of challenging the notificationAnimal welfare associations have called the governments new notification unconstitutional and said that it goes against the spirit of the Supreme Courts orderPeople at places like Madurai and Trichy where Jallikattu is traditionally held were the most elatedTamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decisionI am very grateful to you for your prompt response in the matter which has enabled the conduct of Jallikattu a sport which upholds traditional cultural values and traditions of Tamil Nadu and has great historical significance and also ensures the continuance of traditional breeds of indigenous cattle she said in a communication to ModiI am very happy to learn that the ministry of environment forests and climate change has issued a notification that has paved the way for the conduct of the traditional sport she saidThe central government bowed to the strong demand made by various organisations and political parties to permit the traditional bull taming sport that was banned by the Supreme Court to prevent cruelty to animalsA file picture taken on January 15 2013 shows participants attempting to hold down a bull during the traditional bull taming festival called Jallikattu in Palamedu near Madurai around 500km south of Chennai PicAFPThe central government in a gazette notification removed bulls form the list of animals that are banned from public displayThe central government allowed bulls to be exhibited as a performing animal at Jallikattua and bullockcart races in Maharashtra Karnataka Punjab Haryana Kerala and GujaratLeaders of various political parties in Tamil Nadu welcomed the central governments decision to allow JallikattuDMK president MKarunanidhi thanked the central government and the steps taken by union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and others for lifting the ban on the traditional sportMDMK leader Vaiko and PMK founder S Ramadoss also welcomed the Centres decisionHowever the permission is subject to conditions like sanction from the district collector or the district magistrateThe bullockcart races are to be held on proper track and the bulls have to be tamed within a distance of 15 metres from their enclosureThe bulls should also be put to proper testing by officials of the animal husbandry and veterinary department ensuring their good health and no performance enhancing drugs are administered to themIn May 2014 the Supreme Court upheld a notification by the environment and forests ministry categorising bulls in the list of animals which shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animalsThe Tamil Nadu government filed a review petition before the Supreme CourtThe revocation of the ban on bulls in Jallikattu is illegal and goes against the Supreme Court order In its earlier order upholding the central governments notification of banning Jallikattu the apex court had said the government had applied its mind while taking a decision SChinny Krishna AWBI vice chairman told IANS on FridayAccording to Krishna as per the apex court order the government cannot change the condition without the concurrence of the Animal Welfare BoardOur lawyers are looking into the issue and an appropriate decision will be taken We can file a case against the government notification Krishna addedKrishna said the apex court said any welfare legislation will gain precedence over tradition or cultureSati and child marriage were part of the Indian culture Do you agree with that now he countered when it was posed that the bull taming sport was part of the Indian culture for centuriesKrishna said the case against the use of elephants in Kerala temples during festivals will also come up for hearing in the apex court soonHe said during Jallikattu the bull is subjected to intense cruelty like applying chilli powder on its genitals forcing the animal to drink liquor biting the animals tail and other formsI am a proud Tamilian And cruelty to either man or animals is against my culture he addedThe Supreme Court judgment has categorically said that Jallikattu is illegal This new notification is all against the Supreme Court judgment The Animal Welfare Board India AWBI is going to pass a resolution and then challenge the order Anjali Sharma a member of AWBI told IANSSharma also recalled the Supreme Courts decision that if any change was to be made to the notification the AWBI should be consultedSati was also a traditional practice but we had to oppose it This tradition is also such which is inherently cruel to animals added Sharma opposing the view that traditional practices must be allowed to continueThrough a notification on January 7 2016 the union government said animals like bears monkeys tigers panthers lions and bulls shall not be exhibited or trained as a performing animal at the same time making an exception for use of bulls at Jallikattu and bullockcart races in Maharashtra Karnataka Punjab and a few other states with few safeguards to protect these animalsThe notification superseded the earlier notification dated July 11 2011 which was quashed by the Supreme CourtChaitanya Hoduri a member at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals PETA echoed the AWBI viewsAt first it is illegal to allow the conduct of Jallikattu according to Supreme Court order We will definitely challenge this as it is unconstitutional Hoduri saidThe Supreme Court in May 2014 upheld a notification of the environment and forests ministry including bulls in the list of animals which shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animalsThe apex court ruled that bulls cannot be used as performing animals for Jallikattu events