Question: The central government gave notification to restart which of the following traditional sports / games in the January 2016?
1. Jallikattu
2. Horse cart racing
3. Bullock cart racing
4. Elephant cart racing
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) All of these
Ans (c)
Related facts:
- The Union Government on 7 January 2016 allowed the conduct of the traditional bull-taming sports, Jallikattu, in Tamil Nadu.
- Earlier on 11 July 2011,In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 22 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960) the Central Government gave the notification that specifies the following animals shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animal.
- Namely, 1. Bears 2. Monkeys 3. Tigers 4. Panthers 5. Lions 6. Bulls
- Since then, these states felt the pressure to make traditional sports, which include Jallikattu celebrated in Tamilnadu.
- The ban on the sports was lifted few days before the traditional harvest festival will begin in Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu is celebrated around pongal in southern state of Tamil Nadu with some restrictions.
- The events that use bulls as performing animals are Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat.
- But these events are allowed only in those districts where it is being traditionally held annually but with the permission of district collector or the district magistrate.
- The notification also specifies that bullock cart race shall be organised on a proper track, which shall not exceed two kilometers.
- On the other hand, in case of Jallikattu, the moment the bull leaves the enclosure it shall be tamed within a radial distance of 15 metre.
- It should be ensure that the bulls are put to proper testing by the authorities of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department to ensure that they are in good physical condition to participate in the event.
- Performance enhancement drugs should not administered to the bulls in any form.
- But Recently, The Supreme Court has stayed the Union Government’s notification lifting ban on traditional bull taming sport Jallikattu during the festival of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
- In this regard the apex court rejected the plea of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Tamil Nadu Government.
Reference:
http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/02688/Notification_allow_2688414a.pdf
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-jallikattu-in-tamil-nadu-this-year/article8097633.ece