The Government on Friday allowed the controversial bull sport Jallikattu, by modifying the 2011 Environment Ministry notification. Various animal rights organisations including the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) have slammed the move and decided to take the issue to the Supreme Court.
The present notification passed by the Environment Ministry, dated January 7, 2016, cleared the ground for the various practices of Jallikattu by allowing exceptions for them along with some other specified traditional bull-related events in other parts of India.
Over ruling the 2011 notification, the present one points out , “…provided that bulls may continue to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat in the manner by the customs of any community or practiced traditionally under the customs or a part of culture…”
The notification further says, “...The Central Government, hereby specifies that following animals shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animal, with effect from the date of publication of this notification, namely bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions and bulls.
The Government has however imposed some restrictions with respect to “bull exhibitions”. While bullock cart race shall be organised on a proper track, not exceeding two kilometers, in case of Jallikattu, the moment the bull leaves the enclosure, it shall be tamed within a radial distance of 15 metre.
Further, it should also be ensured that the bulls are put to proper testing by authorities of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department to ensure that they are in good physical condition to participate in the event. Performance enhancement drugs are not to administered to the bulls.
The notification also reads that Jallikattu or bullock cart races shall have to be held with prior approval of district authorities and should be duly monitored by District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and State Animal Welfare Board or district authorities to ensure that no unnecessary pain or suffering is inflicted or caused during such events.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had in May 2014 upheld the 2011 notification by the Environment Ministry to include bulls in the category of animals that shall not be used as performing animals. Accordingly, this indicates that bulls would not be exhibited or trained as performing animals for Jallikattu events.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had recently advised the Environment Ministry not to over ride the directives of Supreme Court that bans the sport in Tamil Nadu. The sources in AWBI said that they will be challenging the Ministry order.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India also condemned the government notification saying that it is a “black mark” on the nation. The organization is to take up the fight of protecting the bulls to the Supreme Court. “The use of bulls in performances was banned by the Environment Ministry itself in 2011 and the causing of suffering that is inherent in jallikattu, bull races and bull fights has been illegal since 1960 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. This U-turn is being seen by many of the BJP’s own supporters as reckless, heartless, and weak. We vow to take our fight to protect bulls from cruelty back to the Supreme Court,” said Poorva Joshipura, PETA India CEO.
Animal lover & Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has also criticized the lifting of ban on jallikattu, saying that it is against the ideology of the BJP-led government which believes in saving cows. She wrote a letter to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar against revoking the ban on the controversial sport.