Jalikattu

Context: Jallikattu, the traditional bull-taming sport, kicked off the year in Tamil Nadu with an event in Thachankurichi village featuring 500 bulls and heavy security.

About:

• Jallikattu is a traditional sport deeply rooted in the culture of Tamil Nadu, India.
• Celebrated during the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal, in January, the event involves releasing a wild bull into a crowd.
• Participants aim to grab the bull's hump and ride it or bring it under control.

Concerns Associated:

• The central issue revolves around whether Jallikattu merits constitutional protection as a collective cultural right under Article 29 (1).
• This fundamental right safeguards citizens' educational and cultural rights.
• Key considerations include assessing if the practices entail cruelty to animals or contribute to the preservation of native bull breeds.
•  The legal framework is also evaluated concerning Article 48, emphasizing modernizing agriculture and animal husbandry.

Legal Interventions:

• In 2011, the Centre prohibited the training and exhibition of bulls.
• The Supreme Court, in a 2014 judgment (Animal Welfare Board of India vs A. Nagaraja), banned Jallikattu due to concerns about cruelty to animals.
•  Subsequently, in 2018, the Supreme Court referred the case to a Constitution Bench.
• The bone of contention lies in the 2017 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act and the 2017 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, which reopened the possibility of conducting Jallikattu despite the 2014 ban.