JOIN USThe ordinance on Jallikattu got ‘technical’ approval from the President through the Union Home Ministry before it was promulgated by the Tamil Nadu Governor.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s formal assent by way of his signature, however, will come once the state government passes a bill replacing the ordinance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly as early as next week.
The bill making an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, allowing the bulls to run, is likely to be introduced in the House on Monday, the first day of the scheduled session.
The bill, when passed by the state legislature, will get the formal assent of the President, officials said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Saturday said in a release that the President had given his ‘approval’ for promulgating the ordinance.
Panneerselvam said the Tamil Nadu government had issued an ordinance, enabling the conduct of the bull-taming sport, after obtaining the prior instructions of the President as envisaged under Article 213 of the Constitution.
Apparently, the draft ordinance received ‘technically’ the nod of the President through the Union home ministry as the powers of the President were delegated to it for giving approval on such an ordinance.
“The ordinance is to ensure survival and well-being of the native breed of bulls and preserving the cultural traditions of Tamil Nadu,” an official said.
What rules say
According to rules, the state cabinet nod is not required for an ordinance. The approval of the minister concerned and chief minister was sufficient when the proposal was put before the Centre.
“On behalf of the government and people of Tamil Nadu, I thank you for all your support and assistance in enabling Jallikattu to be held in Tamil Nadu once again during the Pongal season, upholding the culture and tradition of the people of Tamil Nadu,” Panneerselvam wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The chief minister was referring to his interaction with the prime minister on January 19, subsequent to which he had received the guidance on how to go about a state
ordinance. “The ordinance was promulgated today by the government of Tamil Nadu and Jallikattu is to be conducted with customary fervour all over the state with all the necessary safeguards,” Panneerselvam said.
Earlier in the day, Modi said all efforts were being made to fulfill the cultural aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.
DH News Service
Mar 2006: Madurai bench of Madras HC bans Jallikattuu PIL filed by a person whose son was killed
Mar 2007: High Court orders guidelines
Jan 2008: SC bans Jallikattu on Maneka Gandhi’s plea
Jan 2009: SC allows Jallikattu; tells TN to enact Regulation Act
2011
Jan: SC asks TN to include more norms
April: Plea before apex court seeks ban
July: UPA govt includes bulls in performing animals’ list
Dec: SC rejects plea seeking ban
2014
April: Centre allows use of bulls by amending list of animals prohibited from being trained for performances
May: SC bans Jallikattu, strikes down TN’s Regulation Act
2016
Jan: NDA govt amends 2011 notification, allows Jallikattu but with conditions
July: SC bans Jallikattu; plea filed by Animal Welfare Board and PETA
Nov: SC dismisses TN plea to lift ban
Dec: SC questions NDA govt over notification
2017
Jan: SC says cannot give verdict immediately
Will study law and decide, says PETA
After the Tamil Nadu government came out with an ordinance to conduct Jallikattu, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Saturday said it would study the law enacted by the state. “We are awaiting a draft of the new ordinance and shall study it,” PETA India’s counsel P Sreenivasa said in a statement.
Apt solution for now: governor
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Saturday said the ordinance paving the way for Jallikattu is the most appropriate solution in the present circumstance.
In a release from the Raj Bhavan on Saturday night, the governor said that the entire Constitutional process involving the promulgation of the ordinance by the Centre and the state governments, and the passage of the bill to become an act would be time
consuming.
DH News Service