Racing against ban

The Union Environment Ministry through a notification dated July 11,2011,had included bulls in the list of animals that cannot be exhibited or trained for performance.

In view of this notification,the Maharashtra government had banned bullock cart racing in the state on August 24,2011. However,through its September 12,2011,corrigendum,the government made a distinction that the ban will apply only to non-castrated bulls.

But a PIL was filed against this and the Bombay High Court in March 2012 struck down the corrigendum saying that the ban applied to both castrated and non-castrated bulls. It also asked the state to inform officials in all the districts.

“We have been bombarded with complaints from people who are shocked to learn that bullock cart racing and bullfights are organised despite a Central government ban,” Dr Manilal Valliyate,director of veterinary affairs,People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA),said.

“We have already written to all the district SPs urging them to take action against organisers of such events under Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960 ,” he said.

PETA members have also met Pune police officers and urged them to stop all bull races in future.

Maharashtra has a history of bullock cart racing in rural areas near Nashik and Pune. However,animal lovers have argued that animals suffer as a result of this act of entertainment.

“During races,bulls are beaten mercilessly with wooden sticks spiked with nails in order to get them to run faster in the sweltering heat. The bulls’ tails are painfully twisted. Injuries on these animals are often so severe that they are sent to be slaughtered,” Valliyate said.