In the latest development in the Jallikattu row, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that it has decided to withdraw its 2016 notification that sought to allow the bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
NDTV reported that the Centre decided to withdraw the notification after Tamil Nadu decided to bring in a bill to allow Jallikattu.
The notification, issued by the Centre on 8 January, 2016, had sought lifting of the ban in the then poll-bound state with certain restrictions. It was challenged by Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, a Bangalore-based NGO and others.
The decision to withdraw the notification comes a day after Tamil Nadu witnessed intense violence across the state. Police vehicles were vandalised and set on fire, while the Ice House police station in Chennai was set on fire by the angry mob of people demanding Jallikattu.
Tamil Nadu on Monday passed a law legalising the conduct of Jallikattu - the popular bull taming sport - in the state which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014.
The law now replaces the ordinance that was promulgated amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act on January 21.
An ordinance has a life of six months and it would lapse unless a law is passed to replace that.
The Supreme Court, on 20 January, had delayed its judgement on Jallikattu on the Centre's submission that they were in talks with Tamil Nadu to find a way out in the matter.
In December, 2016, just when the Jallikattu movement was gaining momentum, the Supreme Court had also question the notification that the Centre now wants to withdraw.
"How can you (the Centre) negate our judgment banning jallikattu by coming up with the January 2016 notification allowing bulls to participate in the sport again," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R.F. Nariman had said.
"Your January 2016 notification negates our 2014 judgment banning use of bulls in jallikattu," it had said.
It was in 2014 that the Supreme Court had passed a judgement saying bulls could not be used as performing animals for jallikattu events or bullock-cart races in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or any where else in the country.
Earlier the top court had declared the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009 as constitutionally void, being violative or Article 254(1) of the Constitution.
(with inputs from agencies)
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