Petition against 7 jallikattu events for violating norms

MADURAI: A petition has been filed against seven jallikattu organisers at the Madurai bench of the Madras high court, alleging that they violated the directions issued by the Supreme Court and the Madras high court regarding conduct of the traditional bull-taming sport.
One Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs for People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has flagged jallikattu conducted in seven villages in three districts ahead of Pongal.
The events cited by Manilal in his petition are the ones in Madurai's Avaniyapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur; Dindigul's Neikaraipatti; Trichy's Periya Suriyur and Avarankadu; and Salem's Koolamedu.
Manilal has contended in his petition that the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had authorized four persons including him to inspect all the seven places. Accordingly, they inspected the places and took photographs. Inspection report was submitted to the AWBI, he said.
During inspection it was found that the guidelines and law were totally flouted by the organizers of all the seven events. Subsequently, police in the three districts filed 46 FIRs for illegal and violent acts against the bulls. The petitioner stated that bulls' tails were bitten; suspicious liquids (likely alcohol) were forcibly fed to the bulls; and they were poked with iron rods, metal spears and thick, pointed wooden sticks.
One of the directives is that the bull-taming area should be fully barricaded to prevent spectators spilling or straying into the arena. Besides, barricades should be 8-feet high. But, these regulations were not followed in any of the seven places, Manilal said.
Another order that the state would provide for extra persons in the bull collection yard was also violated. This is to ensure that the bulls which enter the collection point are not allowed to come out.
The scared bulls strayed into residential areas and roadsides, the petition stated.
Hence, it is necessary for the court to take suo moto contempt proceedings against the seven organisers and take action against them according to law, the petition prayed.