The Tamil Nadu Government has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court on Sunday, seeking a review of its decision not to lift the ban on jallikattu (taming of the bull), a popular sport observed in villages like Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniapuram in southern Madurai district on the occasion of Pongal.

An official release said people of southern districts were highly disappointed over the apex court’s refusal to lift the ban on a petition filed by the state.

Acting on a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board, the court had in July 2007 stayed the Madras High Court judgment allowing the event. On January 11, the court rejected the State’s plea to vacate the stay on the ground that the sport was being held for the past 400 years and that the district administration had taken all precautions to ensure that no harm came to spectators or to the animals. The court had, however, allowed bullock cart race (rekhla) to be held under the supervision of the police and the district administration.

The ruling enraged people in rural Tamil Nadu. For the second day running, shops were closed in Alanganallur and Palamedu . The villagers have decided to observe January 17, the day the event, as a black day. Already black flags have been hoisted in several houses in these villages, reports said.

Madurai Collector S S Jawahar’s efforts at a meeting with representatives of these villages to make them obey the order turned futile on Saturday. The representatives told reporters the court had allowed rekhla race because it is popular in Punjab. While respecting the sentiments of Sikhs, it had disregarded the feelings of Tamils, the local leaders said. They pointed out that even Pandian Kings (who ruled Madurai) did not impose any such ban. Along the lines of Kerala and Karnataka, who defied the apex court orders on Mullaperiyar and Cauvery, they wanted the Tamil Nadu Government to promulgate an ordinance to get over the stay.