The ‘form’ of jallikattu being held in Tamil Nadu might be cruel, says SC

‘A bull is not a performing animal,’ says senior advocate Shyam Divan

The Supreme Court on November 30 said the sport of jallikattuas such now might not be brutal but the “form” in which it was being held in Tamil Nadu might be cruel.

A Constitution Bench led by Justice K.M. Joseph said the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules of 2017 had laid down procedures to protect the bulls from brutality. Violation of these rules would attract penal action. The procedures had to be supervised by the District Collector.

Also read: Jallikattu case | What right do you want to protect, SC asks petitioners

Justice Ajay Rastogi asked whether the act of jallikattu, once the protective mechanism was in place, could be termed cruel.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy questioned the cultural segment attached to jallikattu.

“Suppose jallikattu is the only way traditionally for a poor man to get married to the local landlord’s daughter. He has to get at the trinkets on the horns of the bull. This is a tradition which has been going for time immemorial… consider the cruelty shown to that young man?” Justice Roy.

Also read: Prevention of cruelty is not an ‘absolute idea’, SC observes while hearing Jallikattu case