Looking Over The Practices Of ‘Jallikattu, Kambala & Bullock-Cart Races’: A Deep Analysis Of Animal Welfare Board Of India V. Union Of India
Ishta Bandral, B.A.L.L.B.(Hons), The Law School, University of Jammu
ABSTRACT:
This case comment is related to the practices of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Kambala in Karnataka and bullock-cart races in Maharashtra which involves a fair factor of ‘Animal Cruelty’. These practices were challenged by animal welfare activists and other organizations such as PETA as infringing to the rights of animals and attracting provisions of fundamental rights like Article 14, 21 and Directive Principles of State Policy especially Article 51A (g),which are violated by these practices abusing animals. This case follows a series of events right from 2014 where in one case named ‘Animal Welfare Board of India v Nagarajan & ors.’ where Hon’ble Supreme Court imposed a ban on the such practices on the grounds that these practices amounts to animal cruelty. But in the recent judgment the constitutional bench of five judges of Hon’ble Supreme Court upheld these practice as valid and practicable, subject to the amendments made to Prevention of cruelty of Animals, 2017 by the concerned states because these practices forms a vital part of cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu for over 2000 years. The major concern is to justify the re-continuance of such practices which are detrimental to animal rights.
Keywords: Jallikattu, Kambala, Bullock-cart race, culture, animal cuelty, Art. 14 and 21, Art. 51A(g)
