- The precedence of law (law of prevention of cruelty to animals) and human safety over tradition and culture has been made clear by the Supreme Court’s latest ban on jallikattu.
- Jallikattu, an inherently violent bull-taming sport involves letting bulls run wild and youth youth by holding onto the fleeing animals in demonstration of courage. It is associated with the annual festivities and pride in Tamil Nadu making it politically impossible to stop it altogether.
- The ban stems from two principles – avoidance of cruelty and continued failure of the organizers and authorities to prevent associated injuries and fatalities to humans and bulls, despite regulations.
- In 2009, TN had enacted a seemingly stringent law to regulate jallikattu, which failed to convince human rights activists who continued to view it as a cruelty exercise considering the fatalities associated and the cruel nature of training exercises involved.
- Despite the organisers’ argument that the bulls were well-fed, pampered and comfortable, it was known that on the day of the event the bulls are left starving for hours and dragged through a narrow passage to ignite terror or anger in them before they enter the arena.
- SC held that the State’s regulatory legislation is centered only on humans, and asked for it to be struck down since it is in dire contrast to the Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Act.
- The ban may feebly impact tourism, and is likely to ignite sporadic protests and political attempts to seek a review, however the State is better off without the repugnant tradition from a feudal past.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/ending-cruelty-to-animals/article6003026.ece
Exams Perspective:
- What is the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act?