Supreme Court Upholds Laws Allowing Jallikattu, Kambala & Bull-Cart Racing In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Maharashtra

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the constitutional validity of the State amendments made to the central law Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra to allow the conduct of animal sports like Jalikattu, Kambala and bull-cart racing in these respective States.A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a batch of petitions challenging constitutionality of these amendments. These amendments were passed by the States after the Supreme Court in 2014 banned jallikettu and similar activities in the case Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja And Ors.The Constitution Bench observed that these laws cannot be construed as "colourable legislations" and that the State legislature had the legislative power to make these amendments as per Entry 17 to List III of the Seventh Schedule. The 5 judge bench comprising Justice KM Joseph, Justice Ajay Rastogi, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice CT Ravikumar observed that these amendments do not go contrary to the ratio of the judgment in Nagaraja. These laws cure the defects pointed out by the judgment in Nagaraja. The effect of these laws is to minimise the pain and suffering caused to animals. It also noted that the amendments, having received the assent of the President, cannot be faulted."In A Nagaraja, the sport was held to attract the restrictions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, because of the manner in which it was practiced. The amendment Act and rules substantially minimises pain and suffering to animals...", Justice Aniruddha Bose read out the operative part.Court cannot decide if jallikettu is part of cultural heritageThe bench further observed,"We are satisfied on materials that in Jallikettu is going in TN for last one century. Whether this as part of integral part of Tamil culture requires greater detail, which exercise judiciary cannot undertake...When legislature has declared that jallikettu is part of cultural heritage of TN state, judiciary cannot take a different view. Legislature is best suited to decide that."The bench added that its decision will similarly apply laws on Kambala and bull-cart racing in Maharashtra and Karnataka and directed that these laws be followed strictly. District Magistrates concerned have been asked to ensure strict compliance.The batch of petitions were initially filed to quash and set aside a notification issued by the Union of India on 07.01.2016 which allowed the conduct of these animal sports activities. The petitions filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India, PETA and other animal rights groups sought to direct the concerned States to comply with the 2014 judgment of the Apex Court in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja And Ors, which banned jallikettu. While the matter was pending, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017 was passed. Similar amendments were passed by Maharashtra and Karnataka. Thereafter, the writ petitions were modified to seek quashing of the said Amendment Act.The Supreme Court had then referred the matter to a constitution bench on whether Tamil Nadu can conserve Jallikattu as its cultural right under Article 29(1) of the Constitution which guarantees protection to cultural rights of citizens. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Nariman were of the opinion that the writ petition revolving around Jallikattu involved substantial questions relating to interpretation of the Constitution and referred the matter to the Constitution Bench with five questions to decide, besides those raised in the writ petitions.The Constitution Bench had heard all the parties concerned and reserved its judgment on 8th December, 2022. It has held that the view taken in Nagaraja that Jallikattu is not a part of cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu is not acceptable. "We do not think that there was sufficient material for the Court to come to that conclusion...The amendment having received Presidential assent, we do not think there is any fault in it," the judgment states.It has further held that the Amendment Act is not a colourable piece of legislation as it relates to Entry 17 of List II to Schedule VII of the Constitution. It said the law minimizes cruelty to animals in the sports and cannot be held contrary to Articles 51A (g) and (j) or violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. "When legislature has declared that jallikettu is part of cultural heritage of TN state, judiciary cannot take a different view. Legislature is best suited to decide that."Senior Advocate, Siddharth Luthra appearing on behalf of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA) pointed out the impugned legislations were colourable in nature. He argued that even if it is assumed that the President’s assent was taken for the amendment made by Tamil Nadu legislature to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the same was for a statute which in reality...

Supreme Court Upholds Laws Allowing Jallikattu, Kambala & Bull-Cart Racing In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & Maharashtra

Sohini Chowdhury

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