New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to vacate stay on Centre's notification allowing Jallikattu – a popular bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
The apex court passed the order while responding to certain intervention pleas seeking vacation of its stay on holding of bull taming sport Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.
The apex court had yesterday stayed the Centre's notification lifting the ban on Jallijattu, which triggered demands by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and DMK supremo Karunanidhi for an ordinance to hold the event.
While, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan assured positive action in this regard, dismayed supporters and organisers of the sport resorted to agitations and road blockades in some parts of the state and downed shutters in various areas, including those in Madurai district, hitting normalcy.
In one voice, political leaders of Tamil Nadu demanded an ordinance by the Centre to facilitate holding Jallikattu.
Recalling her December's request last year to promulgate an ordinance to enable holding Jallikattu, Jayalalithaa said, "Considering the urgency of the issue, I strongly reiterate my earlier request to promulgate an ordinance forthwith to enable the conduct of Jallikattu."
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday stayed the Centre's January 7, 2016 notification, lifting the ban on Jallikattu.
It had also issued notices returnable in four weeks to Environment Ministry and Tamil Nadu over the issue. Animal rights groups had strongly opposed the notification.
The notification lifting the ban was challenged in the apex court by Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and a Bangalore-based NGO.
The May 2014 ban on holding the sport was lifted on January 8 by the Modi government in poll-bound Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions.
