SC asks Centre, Punjab to respond on plea on bullock cart race

The Supreme Court today sought responses of the Centre and Punjab government on a plea by an NGO seeking permission to file a petition challenging the validity of Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict allowing bullock cart race in Kila Raipur Sports Festival.
A bench headed by Justice H L Dattu issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Punjab government and Malwa Doaba Bulls Welfare Association on a plea filed by Maneka Gandhi's NGO People for Animals.
The plea, filed by advocate Ajay Majithia, sought permission to file a Special Leave Petition to challenge the validity of the July 4, 2012 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Earlier, the apex court had asked the petitioner to wait for the outcome of the judgement in which the court was examining the issue of rights of animals, vis-a-vis, the sport of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu in which bullock cart races were organised during harvesting festival in January.
The apex court had on May 7 banned using bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country and hoped Parliament would elevate the rights of animals to that of constitutional rights.
In the petition, the petitioner said the bulls welfare association and other organisations are carrying on and perpetuating an illegal activity by using the bulls in races which is a "pure and simple act of cruelty".

"...The interested parties from their own averments have disclosed that bullock cart races are in effect for commercial purposes, therefore, bulls are performing animals, which the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act does not permit.

"In view of the above, the petitioner has a strong facie case with the balance of convenience leaning in its favour and public injury will be caused if the operation of the impugned judgement and orders... Passed by the High Court is not stayed," it said.
It said that prior to the races, the animal is put to a tough training schedule, involving hours of running on a given day.

The plea said that to make the bull run is against its physical characteristics as the nature has not endowed it with the features to run in races and any form of speed is a great strain on the heart of the animal, which could lead to sudden death owing to a strain on the animal and is an act of cruelty.