Jayalalithaa urges centre to issue ordinance to allow Jallikattu

She urged the PM to promulgate an ordinance if the winter session could not be extended and a special session could not be called

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has suggested the centre may consider promulgating an Ordinance enabling the conduct of Jallikattu, a bull taming sport, held during the regional festival of Pongal, considering the urgency of the issue. She also sought a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to enable conduct of Jallikattu and requested that the Parliament session be extended, or a special session called for this purpose.

In a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, as the Pongal festival is fast approaching, it is very important that the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event of Jallikattu, are honoured.

"I strongly urge you to immediately direct the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to introduce a Bill to comprehensively and suitably amend the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and any other relevant laws to enable the conduct of Jallikattu. Such a Bill would need to be passed immediately to enable the conduct of Jallikattu during the ensuing Pongal season in January, 2016," she said.

"On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I urge you to have the Ordinance promulgated expeditiously," added the Chief Minister.

Jallikattu, a traditional sporting event, has been conducted as part of the Pongal festivities in rural Tamil Nadu for many centuries and has been mentioned in various ancient literature.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, through a notification in July, 2011, superseded the earlier notification om August 1998 and categorised bulls in the list of animals which shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals along with wild animals such as Bears, Monkeys, Tigers, Panthers and Lions. This notification was upheld by the Supreme Court in its order dated May 7, 2014 and the Supreme Court consequently ruled that bulls cannot be used as performing animals for the Jallikattu events.

A Review Petition before the Supreme Court Bench, which was filed by the Tamil Nadu government on May 19, 2014, is pending.