Centre’s notification supporting ‘jallikattu’ questioned

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Centre for its 2016 notification allowing use of bulls in events like jallikattu, saying that its 2014 verdict banning the use of the animals cannot be "negated".

"How can you (the Centre) negate our judgment banning jallikattu by coming up with the January 2016 notification allowing bulls to participate in the sport again," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said. "Your January 2016 notification negates our 2014 judgment banning use of bulls in jallikattu," it said.

During the hearing, the counsel for the Centre said that now it would be ensured that bulls were neither tortured nor made to take alcohol prior to jallikattu. Supporting the historic tradition, the Centre also said that the court should not stop it and moreover, villagers could not be asked to go and see F1 sports. The bench, meanwhile, refused to hear organisations which have approached it to support the use of bulls in the event and fixed the matter for further hearing on December 7.

Earlier, the apex court had observed that the country cannot "import Roman gladiator-type sport" as it is against the culture of compassion towards the animals.