Animal Welfare Board to contest Jallikattu ban removal

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is mulling the possibility of challenging the central government's notification to allow Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu, said a senior official.

"The revocation of the ban on bulls in Jallikattu is illegal and goes against the Supreme Court order. In its earlier order upholding the central government's notification of banning Jallikattu, the apex court had said the government had applied its mind while taking a decision," S.Chinny Krishna, AWBI vice chairman, told IANS on Friday.

According to Krishna, as per the apex court order the government cannot change the condition without the concurrence of the Animal Welfare Board.

"Our lawyers are looking into the issue and an appropriate decision will be taken. We can file a case against the government notification," Krishna added.

Krishna said the apex court said any welfare legislation will gain precedence over tradition or culture.

"Sati and child marriage were part of the Indian culture. Do you agree with that now?" he countered when it was posed that the bull taming sport was part of the Indian culture for centuries.

Krishna said the case against the use of elephants in Kerala temples during festivals will also come up for hearing in the apex court soon.

He said during Jallikattu, the bull is subjected to intense cruelty like applying chilli powder on its genitals, forcing the animal to drink liquor, biting the animal's tail and other forms.

"I am a proud Tamilian. And cruelty to either man or animals is against my culture," he added.

The Supreme Court in May 2014 upheld a notification of the environment and forests ministry including bulls in the list of animals which "shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals".

The apex court ruled that bulls cannot be used as performing animals for Jallikattu events.