Sneha Terdale, Christ University, Pune, Lavasa Campus
Introduction
Jallikattu is an ancient sport of taming bulls that is performed in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festival of harvest. The sport requires releasing a bull into a field and trying to catch its hump and stay on it for a certain distance or time. Jallikattu is believed to be one of the oldest sports in the world, with a history of more than 2,000 years. It is also regarded as a sign of Tamil culture, legacy, and courage by its supporters, who say that it helps protect the native varieties of bulls and creates a connection between humans and animals. However, jallikattu has also been a subject of dispute for decades, as animal rights activists and groups have questioned its legality and ethics based on animal abuse and public danger. They have contended that jallikattu exposes the bulls to physical and mental pain, such as being stabbed, pushed, lashed, and drugged before and during the event. They have also highlighted that jallikattu has caused many deaths and injuries of both bulls and humans over the years. The legal conflicts over jallikattu have witnessed several changes, as the sport has been prohibited and restored by various courts and governments over the years. The most significant case was in 2014, when the Supreme Court of India prohibited jallikattu and other bull-related sports across the country, citing breach of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. This decision triggered huge protests in Tamil Nadu in 2017, leading to the state government passing an ordinance to modify the law and permit jallikattu again. However, this ordinance was also challenged in the Supreme Court by animal rights groups, who called it unlawful and invalid. In 2023, after six years of hearing the case, the Supreme Court validated the state laws allowing jallikattu and other bull-related sports, stating that they did not violate the Constitution or the central law. This paper will explore the history, arguments, and consequences of the legal battles over jallikattu, which illustrate the intricate tensions between culture and law, tradition and modernity, religion, and morality in present-day India.
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