MADURAI: The Jallikattu Vizha Committee of Dindigul has moved the Madurai High Court Bench, challenging a notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) that brings bulls under the list of performing animals.Contending that the impugned notification runs parallel to the State government’s Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, the committee requested the court to declare the impugned notification as void.In a writ petition filed in the court, A Soosai Manickam, president of the Jallikattu Vizha Committee at Pukailaipatti, near Madoor Village in Dindigul, stated that the MoEF issued the impugned notification on July 11, 2011 without complying with legal procedures. The MOEF notification read that no bull shall be exhibited or trained as a performing animal.According to the petitioner, while issuing the notification, the Ministry not only failed to consult the State government, but also failed to take into consideration the State government’s Regulation of Jallikattu Act, which is in effect since August 6, 2008.Stating that Jallikattu was symbolic of the bravery and courage of the Tamils, Manickam denied the stance of the Ministry that bulls were being subjected to cruelty during the traditional sport.The State government had also taken measures to prevent cruelty to bulls taking part in the event and for the safety of spectators, he recalled in his petition.Adding that the history of Jallikattu dates back to over 500 years, the petitioner prayed that the court allow the conduct of Jallikattu across the State during the harvest season.Petitioner Manickam also claimed that the District Collector and Revenue Divisional Officer of Dindigul had failed to reply to his representations seeking permission to conduct Jallikattu in Dindigul on February 15, on the occasion of St Sebastian festival. He, therefore, sought the intervention of the court to issue directions to the Dindigul district administration to permit Jallikattu in the district during the St Sebastian festival.
Comments
0 comment