Seven people, including spectators and a bull owner, died in jallikattu and manjuvirattu events held across Tamil Nadu on Kaanum Pongal day. Two bulls also died in separate incidents. Over 150 people were injured in the events, which saw hundreds of bulls and tamers participate.
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday permitted the conduct of Jallikattu, a popular traditional bull-taming sport in the State, during the Pongal festival with stringent COVID-19 safety norms in place.
The Judges rejected the request of the government pleader to accord the benefit to other sporting events like rekhla race (bullock cart race), saying the petition pertained only to manjuvirattu.
Police said youths were detained at Mudakathan, Alanganallur, Palamedu and Vilangudi in Madurai district, at Nallampatti in Dindigul district and Pottuchavadi in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu for trying to hold the sport defying the apex court ban.
DMK blamed the Centre and state government for 'not taking appropriate, timely steps' to ensure conduct of the event and announced a state-wide stir.
Protesters demanded a permanent solution for holding the sport and raised slogans that an ordinance was only a temporary measure.
The situation is unlike any other legislation/ordinance that governments at the Centre and states had passed on earlier occasions after the higher judiciary had held certain laws, orders or decisions ultra vires of the Constitution, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
