News
India's Supreme Court rules for the bulls!
July 28, 2007, 11:21PM MT
By Sharon St. Joan
The bull-tormenting celebrations of jallikattu won't be allowed!
The bull-tormenting celebrations of jallikattu won't be allowed!
By Sharon St. Joan, Best Friends Network
Dr. S. Chinny Krishna, Chairman of Blue Cross of India, has written to Best Friends to report that yesterday morning, July 27, '07, the full bench of the Supreme Court of India granted a stay order against the barbaric practice of jallikattu in India.
Jallikattu is a traditional celebration held in villages throughout Tamil Nadu, one of the southernmost states of India, as part of Pongal, a New Year's and harvest festival.
The bull is released through a gate. As the bull charges out of the gate, he is attacked by dozens of barefooted young men, who tackle the bull, trying to hold onto his hump. If they can hold on for thirty feet, they win a prize.
The bulls' horns are sharpened, and during some years, there have been many fatalities among the young men competing for the prize.
Since the prevous version of this article was posted earlier today,
Dr. Chinny has written to us again, and has very kindly corrected
some statements that had presented a mistakenly optimistic view of the level of cruelty involved in jallikattu.
The bulls are, in fact, treated with extreme cruelty. Without going into every detail, the bull is tortured prior to the spectacle, and then, by the senseless crowds, during the event.
The bull suffers injury and severe suffering, and, as well, there is the risk of injury to the humans.
The Animal Welfare Board of India has made determined efforts to have jallikattu declared illegal.
The senior advocate for this case on behalf of the bulls, Mr. K.K. Venugoppal, offered his services pro bono.
The Supreme Court of India is to be commended for prohibiting this
form of cruelty.
Blue Cross of India has just begun their campaign against jallikattu.
We wish them much success!
Our sincere thanks to Dr. Krishna for helping us present a more realistic view of jallikattu.
What you can do
You may read about the work of Blue Cross of India by going to
http://www.bluecross.org.in
Photo: Gentle Brahmin bulls of India, wading in the river