<div>The Supreme Court today said that just because the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu is a centuries-old tradition, it can't be justified.<br /><br />A bench of justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said that if the parties are able to convince the court that its earlier judgement was wrong, it may refer the matter to a larger bench.<br /><br />"Just because the sport (Jallikattu) is centuries-old, it can't be said that it's legal or permissible under law. Since centuries, children below the age of twelve years were married. Does that mean that child marriage is legal?," the bench said.<br /><br />The apex court fixed August 30 for final hearing of the matter to decide on the Constitutional validity of Jallikattu.<br /><br />It further said that no adjournments will be granted in the case after it commences the final hearing in the matter.<br /><br />During the hearing the counsel appearing for Tamil Nadu said Jallikattu is a sport being practiced for centuries and it showcases an age-old cultural practice in the state.<br /><br />The Supreme Court had on January 21 refused to re-examine its 2014 judgement banning use of bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country.<br /><br />On January 8, the Centre had issued a notification lifting ban on Jallikattu in poll-bound Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions, which was challenged in the apex court by Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, a Bangalore-based NGO and others.<br /><br />The apex court had stayed this notification.<br /><br />The apex court remained unimpressed with the contention that Jallikattu was not a fight between bulls and humans but a game where the participants are required to embrace the running bulls by hanging on to their hump as long as possible and that the men are unarmed.<br /><br />Jallikattu, also known Eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of the Pongal harvest festival. <br /></div>
<div>The Supreme Court today said that just because the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu is a centuries-old tradition, it can't be justified.<br /><br />A bench of justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said that if the parties are able to convince the court that its earlier judgement was wrong, it may refer the matter to a larger bench.<br /><br />"Just because the sport (Jallikattu) is centuries-old, it can't be said that it's legal or permissible under law. Since centuries, children below the age of twelve years were married. Does that mean that child marriage is legal?," the bench said.<br /><br />The apex court fixed August 30 for final hearing of the matter to decide on the Constitutional validity of Jallikattu.<br /><br />It further said that no adjournments will be granted in the case after it commences the final hearing in the matter.<br /><br />During the hearing the counsel appearing for Tamil Nadu said Jallikattu is a sport being practiced for centuries and it showcases an age-old cultural practice in the state.<br /><br />The Supreme Court had on January 21 refused to re-examine its 2014 judgement banning use of bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country.<br /><br />On January 8, the Centre had issued a notification lifting ban on Jallikattu in poll-bound Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions, which was challenged in the apex court by Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, a Bangalore-based NGO and others.<br /><br />The apex court had stayed this notification.<br /><br />The apex court remained unimpressed with the contention that Jallikattu was not a fight between bulls and humans but a game where the participants are required to embrace the running bulls by hanging on to their hump as long as possible and that the men are unarmed.<br /><br />Jallikattu, also known Eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of the Pongal harvest festival. <br /></div>