Mumbai: The State government on Monday issued orders banning bullock cart races across Maharashtra, soon after the Bombay High Court ruled that races without any rules governing them should be prohibited.
Ravindra Gurav, a senior officer of the Agriculture Department, said, “All the district officers are being informed that the government is in the process of drafting rules regarding cart racing. Until such rules are framed and issued in the State gazette or by way of an ordinance, no races should be organised in contravention of the court ruling.”
The High Court had said earlier this month that the State must frame rules governing cart races before permitting any such event.
In April, the government had paved way to resume bullock cart racing in the State after the Assembly passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill. The Assembly debated why it was important that animals participating in the races do not sustain injuries. The legislation mandated a fine of ₹5 lakh for violation of rules and imprisonment up to three years. The State had amended the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, for this.
Animal rights group had challenged the State’s decision in court. The State had insisted that the Bill had been passed in accordance with laws in other States, such as the Tamil Nadu legislation regularising Jallikattu.
Bullock cart racing was banned in the State in 2014, following a Supreme Court order. After facing political pressure, the government decided to introduce the legislation mandating that adequate care be taken to protect animals, and permission from the authorities concerned be sought.
Officials from the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department said they too were involved in the decision to ban the cart race. Any violation would invite strict action, they said.
