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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Jallikattu: Animal welfare board gets show-cause notice
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Jallikattu: Animal welfare board gets show-cause notice

Environment ministry slaps show-cause notice on the Animal Welfare Board for seeking a Supreme Court stay against the ministry's decision to allow Jallikattu

On 7 January, the environment ministry came out with a notification that allowed Jallikattu, a so-called ‘bull-taming’ sport in Tamil Nadu that is criticized by animal rights activists as cruel. Photo: AFPPremium
On 7 January, the environment ministry came out with a notification that allowed Jallikattu, a so-called ‘bull-taming’ sport in Tamil Nadu that is criticized by animal rights activists as cruel.
Photo: AFP

New Delhi: In an interesting turn of events ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the Union environment ministry has slapped a show-cause notice on the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for seeking a Supreme Court stay against the ministry’s decision to allow Jallikattu, the controversial game involving bulls.

The ministry’s order was stayed by the apex court last month.

On 7 January, the environment ministry came out with a notification that allowed Jallikattu, a so-called “bull-taming" sport in Tamil Nadu that is criticized by animal rights activists as cruel.

The notification said, “Bulls can continue to be exhibited or trained as performing animals at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat in the manner (specified) by the customs of any community or practised traditionally under the customs or as a part of culture, in any part of the country."

AWBI and animal rights organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India, and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) moved the Supreme Court, which stayed the order. The groups argued that the government notification was against a Supreme Court verdict of May 2014 banning Jallikattu.

AWBI, a statutory advisory body on animal welfare under the environment ministry, had warned in December 2015 against allowing the sport saying it would go against the May 2014 SC order.

The move by AWBI didn’t go down well with the environment ministry, which issued a show-cause notice on Monday asking it to reply within three days.

“This is regarding the notification regarding the participation of bulls in Jallikattu and bullock-cart races which was sent to you for compliance, in letter and spirit. Whereas, it has been noticed in the past that AWBI has been filing writ petitions in various courts seeking directions/relief against the government of India and had specifically been directed to refrain from doing so," said the notice to AWBI chairman R.M. Kharb.

“Whereas government of India has issued clear instructions that the role of AWBI is advisory and the Board has been directed to get approval of the ministry before filing counter-affidavits. The AWBI has filed writ petition titled as AWBI and Other Vs Union of India in the Supreme Court against the notification (issued on Jallikattu). AWBI has no locus standi to file any matter before any court without seeking prior permission from this ministry. You are, therefore requested to show cause within three days from the receipt of the notice as to why the action should not be taken against the board," the notice said.

Advocate N.G. Jayasimha, who is an AWBI member, called it a political move.

“This move is purely for political reasons. When the apex court (during the hearing in January) accepted that AWBI has a locus standi then the show-cause notice is superfluous. This move of the environment ministry shows the Bharatiya Janata Party’s desperation ahead of Tamil Nadu elections. This shows the BJP just wants to score brownie points," said Jayasimha.

Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are due in May.

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Published: 30 Mar 2016, 01:05 AM IST
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