Indian Supreme Court upholds Tamil Nadu law allowing bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu'

Indian Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu law which allows the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' in the state, as per reports. While delivering the ruling, the apex court said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, substantially minimises pain and suffering to animals.

In addition to Jallikattu, the apex court also upheld laws passed by Karnataka and Maharashtra with regard to sports like Kambala and the bull-cart race. It is important to know Supreme Court in May 2014 held that Jallikattu was violative of the rights of the animals. However, later the State government enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017.

However the amendments were challenged before the Indian top court. On Thursday, the court upheld the constitutional validity of the State amendments and dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of these amendments.

The 5 judge bench comprised of Justice KM Joseph, Justice Ajay Rastogi, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justice CT Ravikumar. The court said that the amendments minimises the pain and suffering caused to animals.

The Constitution Bench observed that these laws cannot be construed as "colourable legislations" and that the State legislature had the legislative power to make these amendments as per Entry 17 to List II of the Seventh Schedule, as per Live Law. The court further noted that the amendments cannot be faulted as they have already received the assent of the president.

The bench observed, "We are satisfied on materials that in Jallikettu is going in TN for last one century. Whether this as part of integral part of Tamil culture requires greater detail, which exercise judiciary cannot undertake...When legislature has declared that jallikettu is part of cultural heritage of TN state, judiciary cannot take a different view. Legislature is best suited to decide that."