TN govt can bring legislation to allow jallikattu, says AG Mukul Rohatgi
CHENNAI: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday suggested a way out of the jallikattu impasse by expressing the legal opinion that the Tamil Nadu Government has "all powers" to bring a new legislation to allow the sport that should also take into account concerns expressed by the Supreme Court and animal rights activists. As protests in TN for conduct of the sport gained momentum, Mr Rohatgi said since sports fall within the domain of state, the state legislature has all powers to enact a law though the Supreme Court struck down a similar Act enacted by it a few years ago.
Mr Rohatgi also clarified that the Centre has not asked for his opinion on whether the Centre can bring an ordinance on allowing jallikattu. He also said he was "voicing his opinion" to the media without being asked to do so by anyone. "I am not ruling out anything. Nobody in the Central Government has asked my opinion on the issue and I have not given anything in writing to the Government. I am speaking to the media on my own," he said, when asked whether he was ruling out an ordinance by the Centre.
The A-G's comments came hours after the Prime Minister openly expressed the Union Government's inability in bringing an ordinance. "The Constitution of India has demarked areas for the parliament and state legislatures to enact laws. Sports fall within the domain of the state, while cruelty to animals falls in the domain of the Centre. If the state is desirous of allowing a sport, the state must bring out a law and it must take into account all concerns of cruelty expressed in the Central Act and by the Supreme Court and animal welfare activists," Mr Rohatgi said.
The Union Government's top law officer said while enacting the legislation, the state should impose "very strict conditions" to ensure that the bulls that participate in the event do not suffer any cruelty. "Heavy penalties should be imposed on people who flout the rules like throwing stones at the bulls and carrying knives (while participating in the event)," the A-G said.
Noting that the state legislature passing legislation is the way out of the current impasse, he said a state has "every power" to form a new Act even if the earlier law was struck down.
