India's Apex Court Bans Bull Fights
India's Apex Court Bans Bull Fights
The apex court banned the centuries old Jallikattu bull fights held in Tamil Nadu. This southern state had previously witnessed the bloodshed that used to follow the bull fights. Animals would be maimed and destroyed following these fights. A bench comprising Justice K. S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose also ordered the Centre to amend the law on preventing cruelty to animals to bring bulls into the abit and legal scope as well.
Animal sacrifice has been followed in many ancient traditional civilizations. However, this barbaric practice is banned in many countries across the world. The sacrifice of animals can be traced back to primitive civilizations such as the Aztec. The use of animals for entertainment is prevalent in many western countries such as Spain. But campaigners have been hoping to eliminate this cruel practice with public support.
The Jallikattu bull fights can be traced toa time when it was used as a form of spectator sports. A 2011 Tamil Nadu law mandated the conduction of Jallikattu. This festival was conducted in Tamil Nadu during the summer months from January to May in many places within the southern state. However, this ritual is not a safe one, either for its animal participants nor for its human spectators.
In bull fights or bull races, there is always the danger that the animal can go out of hand and attack humans. The law to regulate Jallikato in 2011 had been formulated as a large number of deaths and injuries had occurred due to the sport. The ban came in the wake of the appeal by the Animal Welfare Baord of Indian in response to the Madras high court verdict.
The Supreme Court of Indian passed a landmark judgement in favour of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment To Animals) Indian and the government body AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India). The judgement clearly stated that the bulls must not be used for jallikattu, bull races, bull fights or any other type of performance.
PETA had actively campaigned against the use of bulls for these events. The group's members and investigators found that bulls became disoriented and attached in grevious ways during the jallikattu event. It was during the races that the animals were hit with nail studded sticks. The current campaign to oppose jallikattu was spurred by petitions from leading politicians and celebrities to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Though the Ministry had issued a notification in 2011 banning jallikattu, the event was still held. The Supreme Court has passed the judgement that the notification must be held. It has struck down the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act No. 27 of 2009. This state law had permitted jallikattu.
Penalties for cruelty to animals under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 are not strong enough to act as deterrents. The Animals Welfare Act 2011 is currently in draft stage. If it is passed, it will be greatly beneficial to the wellbeing of animals.
As human beings who have the privilege to be able to think and lead, we need to be careful about the welfare of animals. They are also God's creation and they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
