Associations seek to quash Ministry notification on Jalikattu

The 'Jallikattu Vizha (festival) Committee of Manaparai in Tiruchirapalli and four Madurai-based outfits in their petition contended that the Supreme Court and Madras High Court had already laid down conditions for holding it. Besides the state government had also brought 'Jallikattu Regulation Act in 2009, they said.

However the ministry had issued the notification without taking any of these into consideration, they said.

The petitioners said the impugned notification vested on the Centre's "unbridled power" to notify any animal under it and also delegated powers to notify banning exhibition or training of any animal.

They contended that the notification could not run counter to the government act and the court decisions. Though Sec22 of Prevention of cruelty to animals Act, 1960 empowered the Centre to notify any animal which should not exhibited or trained as performing animals, it could be exercised on basis of material facts and not at the "whims and fancy" of the government.

The petition will be taken up for hearing tomorrow.