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A Supreme Court bench of Justices Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari today permitted the resumption of bull racing in Maharashtra for the first time after a stay was granted by Bombay High Court in 2017 on the sport.

The races are permitted to go on under the same conditions as State amendments to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals act by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

It is to be noted that a challenge to the amendments to the act brought in by the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are pending for consideration before a constitution bench of the Supreme Court since 2018 and the court today directed that Maharashtra’s amendment will also be considered by the constitution bench.

The Supreme Court had in 2014 imposed a ban on Jallikattu, a bull taming sport, on the ground  that it is in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

After big protests and social uproar in Tamil Nadu, the state amended  the act to regulate bull taming. The provisions of the act are now pending for consideration before the constitution bench. The State of Karnataka had also amended the act to ensure continuance of traditional bull racing in the State, the same is also pending consideration before the constitution bench of the Supreme Court.

Mukul Rohatgi, Senior Advocate, appeared for the State of Maharashtra today argued for vacation of the ad-interim stay.

Case title: State of Maharashtra Vs Ajay Marathe