SC Agrees to Hear Review Petitions Against Verdict Allowing ‘Jallikattu’

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider listing petitions seeking a review of its 2023 judgment that upheld the validity of amendments made in a Tamil Nadu law, allowing the bull-taming sport ‘Jallikattu’ in the state.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, took note of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi’s submissions, emphasizing the need for the review petitions to be listed and considered.

“I will see the email today (on listing of pleas),” stated the Chief Justice.

Typically, review petitions are considered in chambers by way of circulation by the Supreme Court judges.

A five-judge constitution bench, led by the now-retired Justice K M Joseph, had delivered a unanimous verdict on May 18 last year, upholding the validity of amendment acts in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, which permitted ‘Jallikattu,’ bullock-cart races, and the buffalo racing sport ‘Kambala.’

Referring to the laws as “valid legislations,” the bench noted that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2017, and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Second Amendment) Act, 2017 were enacted by the respective state legislatures and had received presidential assent.

‘Jallikattu,’ also known as ‘eruthazhuvuthal,’ is a traditional sport played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival during the Tamil month of ‘Thai’ – mid-January to mid-February.

The ‘Kambala’ race, held in Karnataka between November and March, involves a pair of buffaloes tied to a plough and anchored by one person. They are made to run in parallel muddy tracks in a competition in which the fastest team wins.