NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday approached the Supreme Court seeking withdrawal of the 2016 notification on jallikattu and supporters of the sport informed the court that the plea filed by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is nothing but a fraud as there is no permission by the board to file such an application.
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, which allowed the filing of interim applications, said all matters pertaining to jallikattu will be heard on January 31.
Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi mentioned the case and told the bench that Centre has filed an interlocutory application in the case.
On Wednesday, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) had challenged the Tamil Nadu Amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act that was passed by the State Assembly on January 23.
AWBI counsel advocate Anjali Sharma, who is also a sitting member of the AWBI and convener of its legal sub-committee told Express that she has full authority by the 21 member board and has full proof to support the email trail to support her stand.
“I have full majority with me of board members who have authorised me to write, sign and file applications in all legal matters and it is under the same authority I have moved the court in the jallikattu case. On January 25, when I received the communication from the secretary, I immediately wrote to all members seeking their views and till date I haven’t received any response so far in support or against my move,” Anjali said.
DG Forest SS Negi, who holds additional charge of AWBI chairperson, told Express: “We are consulting all board members. The secretary has sent emails to them to get their views. We expect to receive replies from them in a day or two. Based on the replies we will take a final call.”
The interim application filed by a pro-jallikattu advocate described the AWBI challenge as a fraud.
The plea, filed by advocate G S Mani who appeared in person, claimed that the Ministry of Environment and Forest’s decision in 2011 to include bull in the list of performing animals was part of a conspiracy of anti-national elements to target and attack age-old Indian traditions like jallikattu.