TURN OF TABLES : AN OVERVIEW OF THE LEGALITY OF THE JALLIKATTU PRACTICE

Recently, the Jallikattu Practice performed in the State of Tamil Nadu had a rollercoaster ride. Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Bullock-cart racing in Maharashtra, and Kambala in Karnataka are culturally infused bull-taming sports performed in these states. Their legality has been a subject of challenge for years now. The apparent conflict between the infliction of harm on animals and humans involved, and the cultural significance of the sport/s has left the judiciary in hot water. Despite this, the judiciary has finally derived some crucial conclusions in this regard. 

But to grasp the spirit of the issue, understanding the legal background stands as a requisite. This Article aims at analyzing the timeline of events and providing an overview of the legality of the Jallikattu practice. From the basic understanding of what the practice is to the analysis of the historical decision recently held in the Animals Welfare Board of India v. Union of India[1], this Article aims at providing an understanding of all.

All this started with a Writ Petition filed against this conventional practice in 2014, which eventually got the Practice struck down. However, protests by the performers reignited the issue. The final verdict has been at the long haul ever since.  But the wait is finally over, with the hoped-for recent judgment of a Constitutional bench of the Apex court substantiating their conclusions and turning the tables.