Tuesday, Jan 11, 2011
http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/11/stories/2011011163670900.htm
CHENNAI: A majority of the District Collectors have not followed the Supreme Court direction on jallikkattu, said R.M. Kharb, Chairman Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), here on Monday.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Kharb said the Board had not been informed about the venue, date and the number of animals taking part in the sport.
It had received applications in two batches for holding jallikkattu in Madurai district.
In the first batch, 122 applications were received and 271 animals registered as performing animals. Only one application was rejected.
In the second batch 201 applications were received.
This was also from Madurai, which is being processed by the Board, he said.
One hundred and seventy nine places had been identified as venues for holding jallikkattu.
Last year only in 49 venues were the programme held. This year the district administration so far had not provided the required information to the Board and the programme would begin from January 15, he said.
Like last year a team of photographers and videographers from the Board would visit the different venues in the State and record the programme mainly to show the violations to the Supreme Court.
The sport, apart from inflicting cruelty on animals led to large-scale betting. As per official records 12 persons died and more than 1,600 were grievously injured in the sport last year. Hence the Board was fighting to stop the event, Mr. Kharb said.
