Fwd: Article from The Hindu: Sent to you by drkrishna

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Dear friends,

 

Finally, a judgement which is a slap in the face for the Government

of Tamil Nadu for permitting the barbaric jallikattu where the bulls

are driven crazy with fear; are force fed alcohol and ganja(opium);

have their tails bitten and are then let loose before a drunken crowd

to find a person who can " tame the bull " . Scores of spectators and

animals are badly injured and killed each year. The largest of these

bullfights is organised by the Government of Tamil Nadu in

Alanganallur, near Madurai in January each year.

 

Though animal fights are expressly banned under the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, this sad spectacle went on year after

year. In 2003, Kishkinta Amusement Park in Chennai tried to introduce

it but the Blue Cross of India was able to persuade the Collector of

Kanchipuram District to prevent it by convincing the amusement park

owners that it was illegal and action would be taken under the PCA

Act.

 

Please would readers write a congratulatory letter to Justice R.

Bhanumathi,

Bench of the Hon'ble High Court, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

 

Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/03/30/stories/2006033010480400.htm)

Tamil Nadu

 

Court cracks the whip

 

by Mohamed Imranullah S

 

MADURAI:

 

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the

State Government to take steps to prevent cruelty to animals in the

guise of `rekela' (bullock cart) race, oxen race, `jalli kattu' or

any other form of entertainment.

 

Refusing to allow a writ petition, which sought police permission for

conducting `rekela' race in view of the mahakumbabhishekam of a

temple at Ramanathapuram, Justice R. Banumathi also directed the

Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police to strictly

implement the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, all

over the State.

 

On the petitioner's claim that the Tourism Department was conducting

`jallikattu' to attract tourists, the judge said: " It is high time

the Government shouldered the responsibility of taking up the cause

of animals... Equally, it is high time the police too shared

responsibility in boldly declining permission for conducting such

races... "

 

The judge said she was not trying to enact a new law, but only

emphasising effective implementation of an existing law.

 

Quotes from book

 

Quoting passages from the book `Animal Laws in India' by Maneka

Gandhi and two others, the judge observed: " Can the entertainment of

the gathering be justification for inflicting such pain upon the

bullock is the question to be posed to the consciousness of society. "

 

She also referred to a study conducted by J. Edgar Hoover, former

director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who found that in

every case, convicts involved in violent crimes had a childhood

history of cruelty to animals.

 

The judge pointed out that Section 11 of the PCA Act stipulated a

fine of Rs.50 for beating, kicking, overriding, overloading or

torturing an animal.

 

" There is an urgent need to increase the fine amount and to award

stringent punishment under the section, " the judge added.

 

 

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