TN assembly passes jallikattu bill

Amid continuing protests over jallikattu across the state, Tamil Nadu Assembly today unanimously passed an amendment bill for conducting the bull taming sport without any hindrance.
Replacing an ordinance promulgated two days ago to allow jallikattu, the Bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 was unanimously adopted by the House after members of all parties spoke welcoming the legislative initiative.
The "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017" was piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and adopted by voice vote.
It was deemed to have come into effect on the day the ordinance was issued, January 21, 2017.

The government had promulgated the ordinance in a bid to defuse the raging protests across the state, especially at the Marina Beach, by students and others, demanding lifting of the ban on jallikattu.
The Bill defines jallikattu as an event involving bulls conducted with a view to following tradition and culture from January to May and it includes similar events like 'manjuviratu', 'vadamadu' and 'erudhuvidum' festivals.

It noted that the Supreme Court had held jallikattu as violative of the PCA Act (sections 3, 11, and 22).
The Bill further said, considering the vital role of jallikattu in preserving and promoting tradition and culture among people and also in view of ensuring the survival and continuance of native breeds of bulls, the "Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt jallikattu from the provisions of the PCA Act".

Paneerselvam explained the legal and factual background that necessitated the amendment bill.
(REOPENS MDS 20)
Earlier, moving the Bill, Panneerselvam said the right procedure had now been followed to conduct Jallikattu.
"Since the Supreme Court had ruled that the 2009 TN Act (to regulate Jallikattu) was repugnant to the 1960 Central Act (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act), the right legal step is to make necessary amendments to the Central Act," he said.
He said both the Central and state governments could bring amendments to some of the provisions of the PCA Act as the Constitution provides for such a step by states in tune with their needs after getting the approval of the President.

Through the ordinance, (which was replaced by the Bill) amendments had been made to sections 2, 3, 11, 22, 27 and 28 of the PCA Act, he said, adding "Amma's government has fully carried out the task for the people, students and youngsters to conduct Jallikattu."
He said people could hold Jallikattu on such a date as desired by them as the ban was revoked by the ordinance itself.
In response to a point made by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, M K Stalin that talks should have been held with protesting students, the Chief Minister said he had spoken with them before going to Delhi and later.

Earlier, Stalin recalled that a regulatory Act passed in 2009 during the DMK regime was intended to hold Jallikattu without hassles.
"Due to that Act brought by the DMK government, Jallikattu was held till 2014," he said, adding that his party welcomed and supported the current Bill.
Congress Legislature Party Leader K R Ramasamy said though the Bill to replace Jallikattu ordinance will pave the way for holding the popular sport, he was apprehensive whether it was a permanent solution.
The Bill said conduct of Jallikattu shall be permitted subject to rules and regulations prescribed by the state government. Animal Husbandry Department has framed and notified such rules after the issuance of ordinance on January 21.

Such rules govern conduct of the sport which include obtaining prior permission from the District Collector for persons as well as their bulls for participating in Jallikattu. A Committee comprising officials to oversee the conduct of sport, prior examination of bulls are among the other features of the rules.
A Raj Bhavan press release, here, meanwhile said the Bill after its passage in the Assembly "has to be reserved by the Governor for consideration of the President under Article 254(2) of the Constitution."
"Accordingly, the Governor reserved the Bill for the consideration of the President," the release said.
It added that this was in view of repugnancy of the Tamil Nadu amendment Bill to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.