Ordinance on Jallikattu awaits President's assent

 The Centre and Tamil Nadu are ready with an ordinance to defuse the Jallikattu crisis.
The ordinance treats the bull-taming spectacle as a local sport, and incorporates provisions to protect the animal from cruelty.

The Centre forwarded the ordinance to President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday evening. He is expected in Delhi late in the night, after his engagements in West Bengal.

The ordinance seeks to denotify the bull from the “performing animals” protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Even as aides to the Attorney-General and the state Advocate-General said the ordinance would need the consent of the President under Article 213, home ministry officials said it would first have to go to the Tamil Nadu Cabinet. The  Cabinet  is expected to meet on Saturday to formally clear the ordinance.

Article 213 of the Constitution says the President’s approval is necessary before the governor promulgates an ordinance on a subject covered by a central law, but also falling within the powers of the states.

The ordinance incorporates stipulations outlined in the Prevention of Cruelty Act, a central law, and treats Jallikattu as a local sport that, as a subject, falls under the domain of the state.

The apex court’s decision came in response to an appeal by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who said the Centre and the state were keen to defuse the crisis by Monday.
The Centre and the state government also want preparations for the Republic Day parade at the same location off Marina Beach.

For the last four days, the place has witnessed massive protests, demanding the return of the bull-taming festival.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Panneerselvam said the ordinance would be sent for Mukherjee’s approval to help bring back Jallikattu “within a couple of days”.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told Panneerselvam that he appreciated the cultural significance of Pongal and Jallikattu, but the case was before the Supreme Court.

He had, however, promised to support Tamil Nadu “in whatever steps it took”.
Panneerselvam’s decision to cancel his return to Chennai after his meeting with Modi, and his discussions with Subramonium Prasad, the state’s Additional Advocate-General, led to a flurry of activity.

A draft of the ordinance was finalised with the help of legal experts and officials drawn from the Union ministries of law, home and environment and forest.