Only law and not tradition, will decide whether Jallikattu should continue : SC tells TN Govt on the controversial bull fighting

The Tamil Nadu Government had pleaded that the sport should be allowed to continue since it is a centuries old tradition.

But the made an outright rejection of it.  "In 1899, ten thousand girls below 12 years of age were married. Should we allow it today because it was a tradition at that time?", it said.

The top court said that it was a "constitutional and statutory issue" and that it would examine whether such a sport was permissible in law or not.

The Supreme Court  is hearing petitions by animal rights activists against the Centre's decision early this year to allow the traditional Tamil Nadu bull fight. 

The court had in January this had stayed a notification issued by the Centre to lift a ban on Jallikattu.

The final  hearing in the case will begin on August 23.   

Jallikattu is a sport in which bulls are let loose as young men compete to subdue them. The sport is  usually held in the "Pongal" season in February to celebrate the winter harvest. But it was not held this year due to court's intervention.

Treading the populist path, all political parties in Tamil Nadu have lobbied  for the event to be allowed.

The Tamil Nadu government has argued that there are safeguards to ensure the animals are not harmed.

But critics argue that though the aim of Jallikattu is not to kill the animals, they are  fed liquor and have chilli powder thrown into their eyes before they are released. Also, there are some measures often resorted to during the fight that can lead to serious injuries and even death to the animals.