'Amend Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act'

Chennai: Bringing about amendments to a few sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 would enable lawful use of native cattle in the traditional, cultural and religious sports such as jallikattu (bull taming), cattle breeders and jallikattu supporters said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the press club here, Madras high court senior advocate Srinivasan Ratnasamy said Section 11 (n) of the Act should be amended as the sport of jallikattu should be removed from the animal fighting concept.

Similarly, section 11 (3) should also be amended as cruelty is not inflicted on the bulls used in the traditional sport. No restriction should be imposed on the training and utilisation of native cattle breeds in traditional sports and cultural events, he said.

The amendment should also provide the inclusion of any such breed of native cattle used in traditional sports and cultural events. Under section 27, the animals used by military, police and science laboratories do not come under purview of performing animals.

Similarly, the bulls and native cattle breeds used in the traditional sports and cultural events should also be included in the list, he said.

ARHAM Trust founder Balakumar Somu said, "I have watched the sport in several places. We have not come across any instance of inflicting cruelty on the participating cattle in the way of pinching with a stick, rubbing chilli powder on the rectum of the animal and providing arrack to the bull participating in the game."