Supreme Court Allows Cruel Jallikattu and Other Bull Torture Events, Throwing India Into the Dark Ages

In response to the petitions filed by PETA India and other animal protection organisations and activists challenging the extraordinarily cruel jallikattu, kambala, and bullock cart races allowed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra states, respectively, the constitution bench of the Honourable Supreme Court of India pronounced a judgement allowing the said events.

Since 2017, when Tamil Nadu state legislation allowed #jallikattu to be held in the state again, at least 104 men and children, 33 bulls, and one cow have died.

This is NOT OK.

True bravery lies in standing up for what’s right, NOT in mob violence. pic.twitter.com/dQdjroi2Ju

— PETA India (@PetaIndia) May 18, 2023

In 2014, the Supreme Court passed a detailed and well-reasoned judgement in Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Ors, holding jallikattu and bull races to be unconstitutional and in violation of the rights guaranteed to animals under the Constitution of India and The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. However, after this judgement was passed, the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra amended the PCA Act to allow jallikattu, kambala, and bullock cart races, respectively. All three state amendments were challenged by PETA India.

Gladiator games took place in Ancient Rome, starting around 264 BCE, and ended hundreds of years ago. They often involved animals and are recognised today as inhumane and uncivilized. Yet, year after year, PETA India’s eyewitness investigations have documented bulls being deliberately terrorised and hit, painfully yanked by their nose ropes, and jabbed with nail-studded weapons at jallikattu and bull racing events.

Since the Tamil Nadu government allowed jallikattu in 2017, at least 33 bulls and 104 humans have been killed outright and 8,388 humans have been injured in events throughout the state, according to various news reports. Since many bull deaths and human injuries are not reported, these figures are likely vast underestimates.