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Jallikattu - Timelines

Jallikattu events in Tamil Nadu were banned in 2014 by the Supreme Court based on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the designation of bulls as performing animals. However, the tradition of Jallikattu has been practiced for over 400 years as part of Tamil culture. In 2017, people in Tamil Nadu defied the ban and organized Jallikattu events anyway, putting pressure on the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling.

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150 views2 pages

Jallikattu - Timelines

Jallikattu events in Tamil Nadu were banned in 2014 by the Supreme Court based on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the designation of bulls as performing animals. However, the tradition of Jallikattu has been practiced for over 400 years as part of Tamil culture. In 2017, people in Tamil Nadu defied the ban and organized Jallikattu events anyway, putting pressure on the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling.

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Srini
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JALLIKATTU - A TIMELINE

It all started in 2006 when a a rekla race request was turned down by Judge Ms.Banumathy
in Madurai court. Now she is an SC judge. She cited the AWB petition regarding cruelty
meted out to animals in these sports which includes jallikattu.

In 2008 AWB took this up in SC. Maneka Gandhi was a party to the affidavit in her personal
capacity and not as BJP member. SC observed a lot of irregularities while conducting the
sport and banned it. This is in the basis of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act - shortly
PCA.

In 2009, the then DMK government enacted an act TamilNadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act
(TNRJ act) to regularise the sport which is a major observation by SC. This Act provides a
lot of guidance and details how the bulls should be treated during Jallikattu and avoid
cruelty. In 2010 SC allowed the sport to continue in the basis of the said TN Act and issued
a lot of guidance.

In the sidelines during 2011, then Central Government (Congress & its alliances including
DMK) ministry under Mr.Jairam Ramesh included Bull in the list of performing animals and
banned training them for performance. This complicated matter further. Two states - TN &
Maharashtra got (Jallikattu & Bull Race) affected by this and filed petitions against this. In
TN ticket sales were stopped to prove that Jallikattu is not a performance show.

In 2013, PETA reports that despite SC guideline and Tamilandu Act, the cruelty continues.
For example, to ensure bull behaves aggressively, organizers injure its tail, put chilli powder
in its eyes, they even feed desi liquor to the bull. When bull behaves violently, crowd gangs
up and beats it mercilessly. PETA made documentary, and asked SC for complete ban of
this festival.

One point, which most of observers miss is that in 2014 the then Congress govt (Ministry of
Environment under Ms. Jayanthi Natrajan) took a stance and proposed to remove Bull from
the performing animals list and presented its case to SC during a hearing. The same was
opposed by AWB in the SC. Classical example of two departments of government taking
two different stance.

In 2014, SC bans Jallikattu & Bullock race in total, based on the arguments and also upheld
the 2011 Central Government rule of Bull as Performing Animal. One significant point noted
by SC in its judgement is its reference to the TNRJ Act. It reads as follows..

CULTURE AND TRADITION


42. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the TNRJ Act refers to ancient
culture and tradition and does not state that it has any religious significance.
Even the ancient culture and tradition do not support the conduct of Jallikattu
or Bullock cart race, in the form in which they are being conducted at present.
Welfare and the well-being of the bull is Tamil culture and tradition, they do
not approve of infliction of any pain or suffering on the bulls, on the other
hand, Tamil tradition and culture are to worship the bull and the bull is always
considered as the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Yeru Thazhuvu, in Tamil tradition, is
to embrace bulls and not overpowering the bull, to show human bravery.
Jallikattu means, silver or gold coins tied to the bulls horns and in olden days
those who get at the money to the bulls horns would marry the daughter of the
owner. Jallikattu or the bullock cart race, as practised now, has never been the
tradition or culture of Tamil Nadu.

for some untold reason, TN government did not include in its act of 2009 that Jallikattu is
linked with religious festival and also did not argue the case in that way. This helped the SC
as it would not be possible to ban an event associated with religion practice. Example is
usage of Elephants in Kerala. SC is able to provide only guidance and not able to ban it.

Below is the snapshot of the objective of the TNRJ act..

“Jallikattu” includes “manjuvirattu”, “Oormadu”, “Vadamadu” or “Erudhu


vidum vizha”. The said function consists of taming of bulls as a part of ancient
culture and tradition of the Tamils. The said tradition is in vogue for more than
400 years. At present, there is no legislation to regulate the conduct of
Jallikattu, manjuvirattu, Oormadu, Vadamadu, Erudhu vidum vizha or any such
activity involving the taming of bulls. The Government have, therefore, decided
to bring out a legislation to regulate the conduct of the Jallikattu in the State of
Tamil Nadu by prescribing norms to hold such events and to ensure the safety
of animals, participants and the spectators.

2015 - No Jallikattu in the year

2016 - Central Govt (BJP) make changes to the 2011 Act of Environment & Forest which
PeTA stalls with the help of SC. No Jallikattu in the year

2017 - SC refuses to provide a quick judgement. People of TN defy ban and organize
Jallikattu. Argument continues. This defying could have a telling blow on the judgement as
SC is not expected to take this lightly.

Links that can help getting more info

https://awbi.org/awbi-pdf/sc_judgement_jallikattu_7-5-14.pdf
http://www.petaindia.com/blog/faq-on-jallikattu-bull-races-and-peta-india/
http://jallikattu.in/

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