SC order to dampen bull taming competition

Chennai: For Periyakaruppan and his family this is the most awaited season of the year. For over three generations, the bulls have been the most-priced possessions of their family and on Januray 17, he will get a chance to finally show off this well-groomed animal at the Jallikattu. But contrary to expectations, this time Jallikattu has failed to make his spirits soar. He will now have to shell out another 1000 rupees to register his bull with the Animal Welfare Board of India under the performing Animals Act.

Durai, a local resident said, "Jallikattu's been going on for several years now-introducing such tough norms is a ploy to gradually ban the sport completely-it's against our tradition".

This, the Board says, is in accordance with the Supreme Court Order passed in November 2010.

Chennai: For Periyakaruppan and his family this is the most awaited season of the year. For over three generations, the bulls have been the most-priced possessions of their family and on Januray 17, he will get a chance to finally show off this well-groomed animal at the Jallikattu. But contrary to expectations, this time Jallikattu has failed to make his spirits soar. He will now have to shell out another 1000 rupees to register his bull with the Animal Welfare Board of India under the performing Animals Act.

Durai, a local resident said, "Jallikattu's been going on for several years now-introducing such tough norms is a ploy to gradually ban the sport completely-it's against our tradition".

This, the Board says, is in accordance with the Supreme Court Order passed in November 2010.

Periyakaruppan, a bull owner said, "They've introduced new procedures this year-they wants us to send them a demand-draft of Rs 500, they want us to give them photographs-we spend at least Rs 3000 preparing the bull for Jallikattu-this is an extra cost".

Despite a Court order asking Collectors of each districts to inform the Board on Jallikattu events, the Board has not received any intimations so far.

Maj Gen(Retd) Dr RM Kharb, chairman, animal welfare board of India said, "Therefore since lot of casualties, fatalities in human beings take place, lot of injuries to the spectator's take place, the participating bulls are doped using illegal substances, so the only way to get rid of these practices is to ban the event".

The Animal Welfare Board hopes that with stringent monitoring measures, instances of cruelty against the animals taking part in the event would come down. And if it doesn't - the Board will still have a strong case to push for a ban on the event altogether. With growing resistance from locals for whom it's been part of a tradition for generations - scrapping the event might not be easy too.