(IN) SC BAN ON BULL TAMING DEFIED.

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http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080113/main5.htm

 

*SC ban on bull taming defied

TN to file review petition * *

Arup Chanda

Tribune News Service*

 

Chennai, January 12

The Supreme Court ban on " jallikattu " , the sport to tame wild bulls, has

already been defied in a remote village in southern Tamil Nadu and the

police today registered a case against the organisers, while the state

government has decided to file a review petition in the apex court tomorrow

as it is practically impossible for it to implement the order.

 

With sentiments running high and thousands of people in the 11 districts in

southern Tamil Nadu ready with around 2,500 bulls to organise " jallikattu "

on the occasion of Pongal, the harvest festival in the state, the ruling DMK

is in a quandary.

 

The state government does not have such a huge police force to prevent

thousands of people from taking part in the centuries-old sport and at the

same time following the court ruling cannot remain a mere spectator too.

 

As such, the state government has decided to send a team of legal experts

and officials along with reports about the ground reality and attempt to

prevail upon the apex court judges to review their directive and issue a

fresh one which might allow holding of the popular event with some

restrictions.

 

According to the police, organisers of " jallikattu " in Soorakudi village in

Sivaganaga district, 650 km from here, were booked today for violating the

Supreme Court ban within hours of it being passed yesterday.

 

The event in which many bulls from adjoining districts also participated was

held yesterday afternoon and winners were also awarded prizes though the

organisers had furnished an undertaking to the local police that they would

not host " jallikattu " , which means a bagful of money. In fact a bag of money

is usually tied on the neck of the wild bulls during the sport.

 

Organisers of the game felt that their views had not been properly

represented before the Division Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief

Justice K.G. Balachandran and the fact that the bulls were not tortured and

like in bull fight in Spain the animals were not pierced with sharp weapons

and ultimately killed.

 

They pointed out that following an order by the Madras High Court last year,

the game was held and all bulls were examined by veterinary surgeons before

the event to ensure that the bovines had not been intoxicated with " arrack " ,

a local brew to make them more ferocious.

 

All political parties have also urged the state government to ensure that

the Pongal celebrations passed off smoothly and described the court ban as

an " affront to Tamil culture and identity " .

 

 

--

Naresh Kadyan <www.pfaharyana.in>,

Convener International PFA / SPCA & Chairman.

Mobile : 09813010595

http://nareshkadyan.blogspot.com/