The Indian
Supreme Court has banned a version of bull fighting which has been popular for
centuries in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Jallikattu is an annual festival in
which thousands of men chase the bulls to grab prizes tied to their horns.
The court said that use of bulls in
the sport "severely harmed" the animals and was an offence under the
Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals Act.
Animals rights activists have
described it as a "landmark" verdict.
"This is a landmark victory
for animals in India. Year after year, court guidelines or laws were violated
during jallikattu and bull races, and countless bulls and people have suffered
and even painfully died," a a spokesperson for People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (Peta) told the Press Trust of India.
The Supreme Court had previously
banned the practice in January 2008, but reversed its order four days later,
saying the sport could be allowed if certain guidelines were followed.
The state government, which had
appealed against the order, saying the ban hurt the sentiments of the people,
assured the Supreme Court that it would follow the guidelines to make the sport
safe.
In 2011, the state government
introduced a law to regulate jallikattu to prevent deaths and injuries to
spectators during the sport.
Every year, dozens of people are
injured and some are killed during the festival.
Organisers say bullfighting is a
sacrosanct Indian tradition, mentioned in ancient scriptures.
They say the sport has existed for more than 2,000
years and is an integral part of Tamil culture.
(BBC)
