SC turns down TN govt's plea to lift ban on bull taming sport Jallikattu

The Supreme Court, on 16 November, turned down Tamil Nadu government's plea to lift the ban on the popular bull taming sport Jallikattu. Previously, the apex court had banned the sport in 2014.

The court, in its verdict, said, "Tamil Nadu's argument that Jallikattu is meant only for the entertainment of farmers and not meant to be cruel to animals can't be accepted".

According to a media report, the court also rejected the state's argument that the sport be allowed in the name of antiquity and cultural festival held for centuries.

Despite the verdict, Supreme Court, on 1 December, will hear the validity of Centre's notification allowing Jallikattu.

A leading daily, quoted T Sivakumar, a member of Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu Association as saying, "People here in North don't understand the culture of our state. There is no cruelty to bulls at all. Still, we hope there will be some justice."

However, activists have claimed that they have videos which show how the animals are assaulted, intoxicated and subjected to other forms of cruelty. Lime juice is squeezed into their eyes and chilli powder is rubbed on their genitals to make them ferocious.

While banning the sport in 2014, the top court had said that the sport against constitutional principles and "it is better to play Jallikattu on computer."

The top court further added, "On the one hand you want us to show compassion to cows and on the other, you want to inflict cruelty on bulls".