A PIL seeking a direction to authorities concerned to ensure safety of bulls taking part in “jallikattu” while they are let into the sporting arena has been filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Petitioner G. Manikandan submitted that the bulls were made to wait for a long time behind ‘vaadi vasal’ (a narrow passage through which they are let loose into the sporting arena).
The vaadi vasal was too narrow and some get injured as they rush towards it. He also said the bulls were tortured more behind the ‘vaadi vaasal’ than on the arena.
The petition sought the direction to the Collectors and Police Superintendents of Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Ramanthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, and Pudukottai districts where the bull taming sport is held annually during Pongal festivities.
When the matter came up, Justice K.N. Basha and Justice P. Devadass adjourned the case to January 3, directing the petitioner’s counsel to include Animal Welfare Board of India as one of the parties.
