NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea to allow the bull-taming sport Jallikattu held in Tamil Nadu during Pongal festivities every year.
The development happens just a day after the AIADMK party urged the Prime Minister to immediately issue an ordinance to remove bulls from the list of animals that are banned from being exhibited or trained so that there Jallikattu could be held smoothly this year.
The apex court turned down the plea that sought its intervention in passing judgment on Jalikattu before Saturday and said that it is “unfair to ask the bench to pass order early”.
The apex court had banned Jallikattu on grounds of animal cruelty in a 2014 verdict that has been opposed by political parties in Tamil Nadu.
The court had last year dismissed the plea of the state government seeking review of its 2014 judgement that banned the use of bulls for Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave, who met a delegation led by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M Thambidurai earlier this week regarding this issue blamed the previous UPA government for including bulls in the list of animals prohibited from being exhibited or trained as performing animals.
Dave asserted that there was no ill treatment of the bulls during the performance of the sport and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will look into all these aspects while giving its decision so that the people can celebrate their festivals with full pleasure.