No more bull fights in Tamil Nadu: Supreme Court

New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) The Supreme Court of India Friday
put the brakes on the 400-year-old traditional bull-taming
sport of Jallikattu, organised in southern state of Tamil Nadu
as part of Pongal celebrations, saying guidelines to prevent
cruelty against animals have been violated.

"Apparently guidelines have been not followed. It
appears that guidelines have been violated," a Bench headed by
Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said and directed the District
Collectors in the state "not to give any more permission" for
holding Jallikattu.

"We are not in its favour," the Bench said after
senior advocate K K Venugopal showed photographs relating to
the event in which 21 people died and 1,614 were injured.

Venugopal, appearing for the Animal Welfare Board,
which had last year filed a petition against the holding of
such an event, said all guidelines have been ignored by the
organisers who started holding the event on January 14 and
will continue till mid of February.

However, counsel appearing for Tamil Nadu sought two
weeks' time for countering the allegations.

The apex court on January 15 last year had permitted
holding of the 400-year-old tradition of Jallikattu on the
condition that the authorities will ensure that animals would
not be subjected to cruelty.

The permission for holding the event was granted after
Tamil Nadu government had said there were elaborate guidelines
to prevent cruelty against animals and to ensure elaborate
security arrangements. PTI RKS
PMR
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