SC refuses to stay TN's Jallikattu bill

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the bill on Jallikattu and gave Tamil Nadu six weeks time to respond to the notices issued after the bill was challenged.

The court took serious note of the violence that erupted during the Jallikattu protests in Chennai and other parts of the state. "Law and order was clearly not followed," the Bench said while pulling up the TN administration. The court is hearing a petition that challenged the bill passed by the TN government in which Jallikattu or the bull taming sport.

The bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra while speaking about the violence said that in a rule of law this ought not to have happened. The bench also sought to know why TN had brought about a legislation to legalise Jallikattu. "What was the need for this?" the court asked.

In another development, the court permitted the Central government to withdraw its January 2016 notification legalising the sport. The Centre had filed an application in the court to allow it to withdraw the notification. This notification had been earlier stayed by the court.

The bench asked the TN government why it was defying the Supreme Court. "To say we want law peacefully is one thing, and to defy the SC is another matter," the court said. The bench also pointed out that 4 persons had died in Jallikattu this year. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi while backing the TN bill shot back by saying, " people die in every sport." The centre also defended the bill and told the court that Jallikattu would help preserve the bulls.

Senior counsel, T K Parasaran appearing for TN said that the Jallikattu protests were peaceful. However something happened that led to the violence, he also said. The bench remarked, "Tell the TN government law and order has primacy in in a civilised society. Tell the TN government that when the SC is hearing a matter, it expects compliance of its orders, the bench also said.
Further the Bench also said that it only wants to preserve the honour of the court. There should be no 'ifs' and buts' about it, the Justice R Nariman who is also part of the Bench observed.

Meanwhile senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who is also arguing this case pointed out that it is wrong to say that there was no violence. A police station was burnt during the protests he also pointed out. The Supreme Court then said, "Yes, that is exactly what we are talking about. During the course of the arguments some advocates complained about Swamy calling some people 'porki.' To this the court said, "Take all that outside the court."

OneIndia News