"If the Constitution protects cows, why not bulls?" the Supreme Court asked the Centre today while hearing petitions filed by animal welfare organisations and activists challenging the Centre¡¯s January 2016 notification that revived Jallikattu¡ªa prominent bull-taming sport held in Tamil Nadu.
The bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Nariman stated, ¡°On the one hand you want compassion towards the cow, on the other hand, you want to use bull as a tool for entertainment for a human being. If we go by constitutional principles of compassion, such a contradiction cannot be permitted. Even if you say that Jallikattu is a sport, it is not permissible.
BCCL
Responding to the Tamil Nadu counsel's comparison of the sport with marathons, the bench responded with equal tact, "In a marathon race, you participate on your own will, but in Jallikattu, bulls are forced to participate against their will as slaves were treated in the 16th century.¡±
Justice Misra stood its ground on the 2014 judgement issued by the SC, ¡°How can you allow the bull to be a source of entertainment for human beings? Jallikattu is impermissible as it violates the provisions of the law (to protect animals) and the Constitution. In view of the cruelties inflicted, nothing of this nature is permissible.¡±
BCCL
"Court says what the law interprets and accordingly they decide on any case, the merit of the case depends on the law. If the law is not permitting Jallikattu then how can the court permit? The BJP is playing the double game in the matter," DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan told media persons.
"They should take proper steps so that traditional games are allowed to be played," he added.