Tamil Nadu
Supreme Court's Constitution Bench affirms Tamil Nadu law allowing Jallikattu
New Delhi/UNI: A five judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu law that protects Jallikattu by claiming that the bull-taming sport is a cultural heritage of the state.
The Supreme Court in its verdict upheld the validity of Tamil Nadu's law allowing bull taming sport 'Jallikattu', noting that it minimises cruelty to animals.
The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court also dismissed a batch of petitions challenging constitutionality of laws permitting Jalikattu, Kambala and bull-cart racing in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The Apex Court also noted that Jallikattu has been going on for the last few centuries.
The law having received the President's assent can't be interfered with, the Top Court said, in its judgement.
The court further in its verdict said the Tamil Nadu law is a valid piece of legislation and there is no flaw in it.
Legislature is the best institution to take a call on what is part of the cultural heritage of a state, and it cannot be decided by judiciary.
The Apex Court said we cannot disrupt the view taken by the legislature on Jallikattu.
The five-judge constitution bench upheld the Tamil Nadu law in this issue.
A five-judge Constitution bench of the Top Court, headed by Justice K M Joseph, after hearing submissions from all the petitioners, respondents -- Centre, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra governments and others -- had reserved its verdict on December 8, last year.
The four other judges in the bench comprised Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and C T Ravikumar, apart from Justice Joseph, delivered its judgement today.
The top court had earlier said the petitions challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017 needed to be decided by a larger bench since they involved substantial questions relating to interpretation of the Constitution.
Jallikattu is conducted during the Pongal festival as thanks giving for a good harvest and subsequent festivals are conducted in temples which shows that the event has great cultural and spiritual significance.
The petitions, including one filed by animal rights body PETA, have challenged the state law that allowed the bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
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