What Is Jallikattu?
Jallikattu, also known as eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival. The festival is a celebration of nature, and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, of which cattle-worship is part. It is popular in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni, Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts — known as the Jallikattu belt. The practice of jallikattu has long been contested, with animal rights groups and the courts
History of Jallikattu
What Is Jallikattu Dispute?
A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by the legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. The amendments allowed bull-taming sports like jallikattu, kambala, and bullock-cart races
Tamil Nadu Government On Jallikattu Dispute
- In Tamil Nadu, jallikattu is both a religious and cultural event celebrated by the people of the State and its influence extends beyond the confines of caste and creed.
- “A practice which is centuries-old and symbolic of a community’s identity can be regulated and reformed as the human race evolves rather than being completely obliterated,” the State government submitted.
- It added that any ban on such a practice would be viewed as “hostile to culture and against the sensitivities of the community”.
- Describing jallikattu as “a tool for conserving this precious indigenous breed of livestock,” the government argued that the traditional event did not violate principles of compassion and humanity.
- It contended that the traditional and cultural significance of the event and its intertwining with the sociocultural milieu was being taught in high school curriculum so that “the significance is maintained beyond generations.”
Background Of Jallikattu Dispute
- In 2014, a two-judge Bench of apex court had essentially outlawed two common sports practised in the States of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
- These were referred to as Jallikattu and Bullock Cart Race respectively.
- In 2015, the apex court also dismissed the Tamil Nadu government’s plea calling for a recall of its verdict.
- In January 2017, massive protests erupted across Tamil Nadu against the ban, with Chennai city witnessing a 15-day-long Jallikattu uprising.
- In January 2016, a notification was issued by the MoEF&CC prohibiting the exhibition or training of bulls as performing animals.
- A batch of petitions were filed challenging the exemption notification, relying on the 2014 ruling.
- The Tamil Nadu Assembly, in 2017, passed a bill replacing an ordinance for conducting the bull-taming sport.
- The “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act 2017” was passed in this regard.
- The act said the “Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt Jallikattu from the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act”.
- The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) filed some petitions.
- In 2018, a two-judge bench referred the petitions challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017 to a larger bench
SC On Jallikattu Dispute
The top court held that the Tamil Nadu Amendment Act is not a piece of colourable legislation.
It relates to Entry 17 of List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution which relates to the prevention of cruelty to animals.
Observations regarding 2017 amendment
The 2017 amendment “minimises cruelty to animals in the concerned sports”.
Once it is implemented and read with the rules, the sports will not come under the definition of cruelty defined in the 1960 Act.
The amendment has received Presidential assent; hence, there is no flaw in the state action.
As per the legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu has been going on in Tamil Nadu for the last few centuries and forms a part of its cultural heritage.
In this context, the court clarified that it did not want to disrupt the legislature’s view.
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