Jallikattu case | What right do you want to protect, Supreme Court asks petitioners

Bench points to provisions in the law which calls for definitive preventive measures against cruelty to animals used in the bull-taming sport

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked activists what they found wrong in Tamil Nadu's jallikattu law when it protects animals from "unnecessary pain" and sought to preserve the "culture and traditions" of the people in the State.

A Constitution Bench led by Justice K.M. Joseph pointed to provisions in the law which calls for definitive preventive measures against cruelty to animals used in the bull-taming sport.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules of 2017 also recognised the culture and traditions of the people as a fundamental right.

Also read: Prevention of cruelty is not an ‘absolute idea’, SC observes while hearing Jallikattu case

"What is the constitutional right you want to protect here?" Justice Ajay Rastogi, on the Bench, asked the petitioners.

Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, for the petitioners, said "a mere activity does not give a fundamental right status because of an assertion". He said there was no material to justify jallikattu as a part of culture.

He referred to how practices like Sati, dowry, widow re-marriage, child marriage, etc, were once recognised as part of culture and stopped through legislation.