Supreme Court questions TN on 'necessity' of jallikattu to preserve native bull breed

The bench also asked the state whether an animal can be used, as in jallikattu, for the entertainment of humans

The Supreme Court, which is hearing a challenge to a Tamil Nadu law allowing jallikattu, on Thursday asked the state government how is the bull-taming sport necessary for preserving the native breed of bulls.

Jallikattu, also known as "eruthazhuvuthal," is a bull-taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice K M Joseph also asked the state whether an animal can be used, as in jallikattu, for the entertainment of humans.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the top court that jallikattu is not per se entertainment and the person who showcases his bull treats the animal with great care and compassion.

The bench, also comprising justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and C T Ravikumar, asked should the animal, for whom one is supposed to have "compassion" as a constitutional value, be subjected like this for the entertainment of humans and can a State allow this on the basis of its perception of cultural rights.

Read | Ultimate question perhaps is whether 'jallikattu' can be allowed in any form: SC

"What is the basis of saying it is pure entertainment? Look at it from a historical perspective," Sibal said, adding, a person feeds the bull every day for this event in January and he does it with great care and compassion.

The bench asked, "What he get out of this?"

The senior advocate responded, saying the price of the bull goes up in the market.

When Sibal said the sport in not about entertainment, the bench shot back, asking "Not entertainment? Then why are people gathering there?"

He responded, contending it is to demonstrate the vigour of the bull, how you have brought it up and also how strong it is.

"The whole concept that this is for entertainment is not the case at all," Sibal insisted.

The apex court had, in its 2014 judgment, said bulls cannot be used as performing animals either for jallikattu events or bullock-cart races, and banned their use for these purposes across the country.

It had earlier dismissed the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking a review of its 2014 judgment banning the use of bulls for jallikattu in the state and bullock-cart races across India.

Tamil Nadu had amended the central law -- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 -- and allowed jallikattu in the southern state.

Some of the petitioners had argued before the apex court that when the law prohibits cruelty to animals there cannot be an amending Act which perpetuates cruelty.

During the day-long hearing on Thursday, the bench asked, "The point is how is the holding of jallikattu necessary for preservation of the native breed."

It said arguments have been advanced from the petitioners' side that in spite of whatever prohibitions are there to prevent cruelty, at the implementation level, these are not being followed.

"And actually, we will have to lay down some principle that if a law contains many preventive measures, but if in real life it is found that these are violated in toto, then would it be open for the court to hold that these prohibitions are unimplementable and the Act remains inherently cruel," the bench said.

The top court, which also asked whether animal has personhood, observed that one of the advocates for the petitioners have argued that every animal is entitled to dignity.

"Dignity in what sense?" Sibal asked.

While saying that life is finite, Justice Joseph observed, "As long as you are alive, in whatever form you are alive in this world, you are entitled to be treated with dignity. Free from all kinds of physical pain... also mental pain and fear."

The bench said one cannot say he will use an animal as a plaything or a toy.

Sibal said it is the duty of everyone to protect the nature in all forms.

The bench also wanted to know about the evidence to support the claim that it is a cultural practice.

The senior advocate argued the petitioners have contended that the amended law is a "colourable exercise" of power because it perpetuates cruelty but this is a presumption.

He said the new regime seeks to prevent any cruelty and it cannot be a colourable exercise.

Sibal said there are several sports in which a person gets injured or even killed.

"What do you say about the effect of noise (during jallikattu)?" the bench asked.

Sibal said in marriage ceremonies such a thing happens to a horse with bands all around the animal.

The hearing remained inconclusive and will continue on December 6.

The Constitution bench had on November 24 commenced hearing arguments on a batch of petitions challenging the Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra laws allowing jallikattu and bullock-cart races.

The Tamil Nadu government recently told the top court that jallikattu is a religious and cultural festival that bears a "religious significance" to the people of the state and does not violate the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.

In a written submission filed in the apex court, the state said jallikattu is not merely an act of entertainment or amusement but an event with great historic, cultural and religious value.

Jallikattu not only preserves the cultural and traditional heritage, the cause of conservation of a native breed of cattle is also addressed by the continuous conduct of these events," it has said.

The apex court is considering five questions referred to it by a two-judge bench of the top court in February 2018.

Referring the issue to the five-judge bench, the apex court had said the petitions challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017 need to be decided by a larger bench since those involve substantial questions related to the interpretation of the Constitution.