SC prohibits use of bulls in 'Jallikattu'

The Supreme Court on Wednesday banned ‘Jallikattu’ and bullock-cart race organised in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra respectively saying that right to dignity and fair treatment was not confined to human beings alone, but to animals as well and such events caused pain and stress on the bulls.

A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose held that the animals enjoyed statutory rights against physical discomforts.

“We, therefore, hold Jallikattu, Bullock-cart Race and such events per se violate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act and hence we uphold the notification dated 11.7.2011 issued by the Central government, consequently, bulls cannot be used as performing animals, either for the Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races in the state of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or elsewhere in the country,” the bench said.

The apex court’s judgment held the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, which allowed organisation of Jallikattu, as unconstitutional and void for being inconsistent with the Central law of PCA Act.