The Supreme Court on Friday (February 2) sent the matter challenging the Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra’s laws to allow jallikattu and bullock cart races to a five-member constitution bench.

The two states had earlier added sections the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 to pave way for jallikattu and bullock cart races. The legality of these laws has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Both states had earlier submitted to the apex court that they had added sections to the PCA Act to preserve the cultural rights of a section of society.

The constitution bench will decide whether jallikattu and bullock cart races are part of the states’ culture or not. At the same time, the constitutional bench will also decide whether the fundamental rights granted by the two states while allowing jallikattu and bullock cart races come first under Article 29 (1) of Indian Constitution or not.

—India Legal Bureau