A week after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a law allowing jallikattu to be conducted in the state, the Supreme Court questioned the O Panneerselvam government’s decision to bring an Act. However, the apex court refused to stay the law, even as it agreed to hear petitions filed by animal rights groups.
Rapping the state government for its new law, the apex court asked, “What is the necessity for the Tamil Nadu government to bring an Act allowing jallikattu? Is there any legal answer to it?”
The court slammed the state government for defying the SC order in bringing in the law.
To say we want law peacefully is one thing, to defy the SC is another.Justice JR Nariman
The bench comprised of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice JR Nariman also hit out at the Tamil Nadu government for hurriedly passing a law following large-scale protests in the state, saying:
If the Tamil Nadu government brought new legislature allowing jallikattu due to the protests, then how could it have criticised Karnataka in the Cauvery case?
The court was referring to Tamil Nadu’s criticism last year when Karnataka chose to defy SC orders to release Cauvery water.
‘Law and Order in Disarray’
The SC also slammed the Tamil Nadu government for not maintaining law and order during the protests. The bench said, “Tell your government that law and order is primacy in civilised society and we can't tolerate such incidents.”
The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and other groups, which challenged Tamil Nadu’s jallikattu legislation. The animal welfare groups contend that the hastily passed law is against the SC order that had held jallikattu inherently cruel to animals.
This comes even as President Pranab Mukherjee had given his assent to the legislation on Monday. Following his nod, the Bill officially becomes an Act. The President’s approval is required in state laws that amend Central Acts.
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