The letter comes just days before the Supreme Court hearing regarding PETA India's petition calling for the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act No 27 of 2009, a state law that permits jallikattu, to be struck down. In her letter, Malini points out that jallikattu, in which terrified bulls are kicked, punched, jumped on, dragged to the ground and otherwise tormented, is in flagrant violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and is also harmful to human participants and spectators. The ministry's input is expected to be key when the court hears the case on July 4.
"People expect our officials to uphold meaningful animal welfare standards and to protect citizens," writes Malini. "I urge you to do so by taking steps towards ending jallikattu without delay."
Despite claims that regulations would reduce cruelty to animals and even though the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 prohibits inflicting pain and suffering on an animal, PETA's investigation into five jallikattu events in January 2011 revealed that abuse is still rampant. Terrified bulls are painfully dragged by nose ropes and surrounded by mobs of taunting people who send the animals into a frenzy. They are goaded by sticks, pushed and wrestled to the ground and pulled in different directions by ropes. At jallikattu events this year, hundreds of human participants have been injured, some people have been killed. In one four-day period in January 2011, 215 people sustained injuries during jallikattu events, 154 of whom were spectators. Two people died. Read the full report here.
Source: Vijay SinghVijay Singh, TNN, Mumbai.
