IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

WRIT PETITON (C) NO. 2 4 OF 2 0 1 6 (Und er Article 3 2 of th e Constitution of India) WITH INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 1 (Application for s t ay/int erim directions) WITH INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 3, 4 & 6 (Application for imple a d m e n t) WITH INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 5 (Application for p er mission to a p p e ar a n d argu e in p erson) WITH INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 7 (Application for int erv e ntion) AND WRIT PETITON (C) NO. 2 5 OF 2 0 1 6 (Und er Article 3 2 of th e Constitution of India) WITH INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 1 (Application for int erim relief) AND WRIT PETITON (C) NO. 2 6 OF 2 0 1 6 (Und er Article 3 2 of th e Constitution of India) WITH INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION NO. 1 (Application for directions) AND WRIT PETITON (C) NO. 2 7 OF 2 0 1 6 (Und er Article 3 2 of th e Constitution of India) AND WRIT PETITION (C) NO. 8 8 OF 2 0 1 6 (Und er Article 3 2 of th e Constitution of India)

Co m p a s sion Unlimit e d Plus Action e tc ...Petition er

Versus

Union of India & Ors. ..Res pond e nt s

OFFICE REPORT

The Writ Petitions exc e pt W.P. (C) 8 8 of 2 0 1 6 a b ov e-m e n tion e d w er e list e d b efore th e Hon'ble Court on 1 2.01.20 1 6 a n d 1 3.01.20 1 6, wh e n th e Hon'ble Court w a s ple a s e d to int er-alia p a s s th e following Ord er:-

Ord er d a t e d 1 2 . 0 1 . 2 0 1 6

"In th e s e writ p e titions pr eferred u n d er Article 3 2 of th e Constitution of India, th e p e tition ers, Co m p a s sion Unlimit e d Plus Action, th e Anim al Welfare Board of India, Gauri Maulekhi, People for Ethical Treat m e n t of Anim als India a n d Fed er ation of Indian Anim al Prot ection Org a nizations, h av e pr ay e d for a n a p propriat e writ, ord er or direction for q u a s hing Noti fication No.G.S.R.13(E) d a t e d 7t h Janu ary, 2 0 1 6, p u blish e d by t h e res pon d e n t, th e Union of India, in The Gaz ett e of India; Extraordinary, a n d furth er to co m m a n d th e re s pon d e nt to e n s ur e co m plianc e with th e law laid down in Anim al Welfare Board of India vs. A. Nag ar aja a n d Oth ers (201 4) 7 SCC 5 4 7, a n d to p a s s s uc h oth er ord er a s m a y b e d e e m e d n ec e s s ary. Ther e is a pr ay er for st ay of th e impug n e d Noti fication.

We h av e h e ard Mr. C.A. Sund ar a m, Mr. Sidh arth Luthra, Mr. K.K. Venugop al, Mr. Anan d Grover, Mr. R. Venkat ar a m a ni, Mr. Dus hy a nt A. Dav e, le arn e d s e nior cou ns el along with Ms. Anjali Sh ar m a, le arn e d cou ns el a n d oth erle arn e d cou ns el for th e p e tition ers a n d Mr. Mukul Rohat gi, le arn e d Attorn ey Gen er al for th e Union of India, Mr. L.N. Rao a n d Mr. Sh ekh ar Naph a d e, learn e d s e nior coun s el for th e St at e of Tamil Nadu a n d Mr. Nish a nt Ra m ak a ntr ao Katn e s hw arkar, le arn e d coun s el for th e St at e of Mah ar a s htra.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

Having h e ard learn e d couns el for t h e p arties, w e ar e incline d to issu e notic e. The res pon d e nt s who h av e e n t er e d a p p e ar a nc e b e s erv e d with th e copy of th e p e tition within a w e ek h e nc e. Count er a ffidavit b e filed within four w e eks th er efro m. Rejoind er a ffidavit, if a ny, b e filed within four w e eks fro m th e d a t e of rec eipt of th e cou nt er a ffidavit. The u n-s erv e d res pond e nt s b e s erv e d throug h Dasti.

As a n int erim m e a s ur e, w e direct t h a t th er e s h all b e st ay of Noti fication d a t e d 7t h Janu ary, 2 0 1 6, issu e d by th e Ministry of Environ m e nt Forest a n d Clim a t e Cha n g e, u ntil furth er ord ers.

Let th e m a t t er b e list e d on 1 5t h March, 2 0 1 6. "

Taken on Board.

The a p plication for int erv e ntion st a n d s allow e d.

Apart fro m int erv e ntion, in th e a p plication th er e is also a pr ay er s e eking vac a tion of th e ord er of st ay d a t e d 1 2.01.20 1 6 p a s s e d in th e writ p e tition. It is cont e n d e d in t h e a p plication th a t th e Jallikattu is not a fight b e tw e e n b ulls a n d h u m a n s b ut a g a m e wh er e th e p articipa nts ar e req uired to e m br ac e th e running b ulls by h a n ging on to t h eir h u m p a s long a s pos sible; a n d th ey ar e u n ar m e d. It is also p ut forth th a t th e b ulls ar e tr ain e d not to let th e villag e yout h cla m b er on to th eir h u m p s a n d in no c a s e th ey ar e led a w ay by th e own ers aft erw ards.

It is urg e d th a t Jallikattu is a socio-religious festival a n d not a n e n t ert ain m e nt a n d th e p e o ple a t v arious plac e s in t h e St at e of Tamil Nadu h av e im m e n s e faith in t h e s aid festival for m a ny a re a so n. Emph a sis is laid on th e cultur e of th e Sta t e a n d th e b elief of th e p a stor al co m m u nities. In e s s e nc e, it is urg e d t h a t th er e is no cru elty m e t e d out to th e b ulls in s uch a festival or g a m e.

xxxx xxxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

Learn e d cou ns el for th e a p plica nt h a s dr aw n our a t t e ntion to p ar a gr a p h 9 1 to s how th a t t h er e w as no prohibition or b a n b ut to reg ulat e th e g a m e. On th e contr ary, Mr. Sun d ar a m a n d Mr. Grover, le arn e d s e nior coun s el, would s u b mit th a t a p po sit e re a ding of p ar a gr a p h 9 1 do e s not re flect so. We h a d not e d th e s aid s u b mission y e st erd ay a n d w e will b e d e aling with th e s a m e a t th e ti m e of final h e aring.

Learn e d coun s el for th e a p plica nt would s u b mit th a t c ert ain arr a n g e m e n t s h av e alre a dy b e e n m a d e a n d res ponsible District Collectors h av e b e e n a p p oint e d to s u p ervis e Jallikattu, a n d th er efore, so t h e ord er of st ay p a s s e d by this Court s ho uld b e v ac at e d. The afore s aid s u b mission le av e s u s u ni m pr e s s e d, for th e si mon p ure re a s on, th e two-Judg e Bench of this Court, a s it a p p e ar s, h a d discus s e d m a ny fac et s with reg ard to Jallikattu a n d ex pr e s s e d its opinion. The arr a n g e m e n t s m a d e on th e b a sis of th e Noti fication would not w arra nt alt er ation of our ord er a n d, th er efore, w e ar e not incline d to v ac a t e th e ord er of st ay.

Let th e m a t t er b e list e d on th e d a t e fixed. It is op e n to th e a p plica nt to file th e count er a ffidavit within four w e eks fro m tod ay a n d a s sist th e Court."

It is s u b mitt e d th a t co m m o n s how c a u s e notic e h a s b e e n issu e d to th e re s pon d e nt s through Regd. A.D. on 1 5.0 1.20 1 6.

It is furth er s u b mitt e d th at Dasti notic e h a s b e e n give n to th e cou ns el for th e Petition ers to s erv e th e copy u po n th e u n-s erv e d res pon d e n t s.

W.P. (C) 2 4 OF 2 0 1 6

It is s u b mitt e d th a t th er e ar e 9 res pond e nt s in th e m a tt er a b ov e-m e n tion e d. A.D. Cards d uly sign e d h av e b e e n rec eive d on b e h alf of Respon d e nt Nos. 8 a n d 9. Vakalatn a m a/App e ar a nc e on b e h alf of Respon d e nt Nos. 2, 3, 4 a n d 6 h a s b e e n rec eive d b ut n eith er A.D. Card nor u n s erv e d cov er cont aining h a s b e e n rec eive d in res p e ct of Respon d e n t Nos. 1, 5 a n d 7 so far. Henc e s ervic e is inco m plet e u po n Res pon d e n t Nos. 1, 5 a n d 7.

It is s u b mitt e d th a t Ms. Aparn a Bhat, Advoc at e for th e p e tition er h a s not filed proof of d a s ti s ervic e so far.

It is furth er s u b mitt e d th at Mr. Bijan Ghosh, Advoc at e h a s on 1 9.01.20 1 6 filed a n a p plication for imple a d m e n t on b e h alf of Rashtriya Goraksh a Se n a which h a s b e e n re gist er e d a s Int erlocutory Application No. 3. The s a m e is plac e d in a s e p ar a t e volu m e with th e Pap er Books.

It is n ext s u b mitt e d th a t Mr. G.S. Mani, Petition er-in-p erson h a s on 1 9.01.20 1 6 filed a p plications for imple a d m e n t a n d p er mission to a p p e ar a n d argu e in p erson which h av e b e e n regist er e d a s Int erlocutory Application No. 4 & 5. The s a m e ar e plac e d in a s e p ar at e volu m e with th e Pap er Books.

It is s u b mitt e d th a t Mr. Anil Kum ar Mishra-I, Advoc a t e h a s on 1 5.02.20 1 6 filed a n a p plication for imple a d m e n t on b e h alf of Tamil Nadu Para m Pariya which h a s b e e n re gist er e d a s Int erlocutory Application No. 6. The s a m e is plac e d in a s e p ar a t e volu m e with th e Pap er Books.

It is furth er s u b mitt e d th at Mr. Vishnu Sh ar m a, Advoc at e h a s on 0 3.03.20 1 6 filed a n a p plication for int erv e ntion on b e h alf of Fight for a ni m als rights which h a s b e e n regist er e d a s Interlocutory Application No. 7. The s a m e is plac e d in a s e p ar a t e volu m e with th e Pap er Books.

It is n ext s u b mitt e d th a t Mr. Yoges h Kann a, Advoc at e h a s on 0 8.03.20 1 6 filed co m m o n count er a ffidavit on b e h alf of St at e of Tamil Nadu. The s a m e is b eing cirulcat e d b efore th e Hon'ble Court.

W.P. (C) 2 5 OF 2 0 1 6

It is s u b mitt e d th a t th er e ar e 2 res pond e nt s in th e m a tt er a b ov e-m e n tion e d. Vakalatn a m a/App e ar a nc e on b e h alf of Respon d e n t No. 2 h a s b e e n filed b ut n eith er A.D. Card nor u n s erv e d cov er cont aining notic e h a s b e e n rec eive d b ack in res p e ct of Res pond e n t No.1 so far. Henc e s ervice of notice is inco m plet e u po n Respon d e n t No. 1.

It is furth er s u b mitt e d th at Ms. Supriya Juneja, Advoc at e for th e Petition er h a s not filed proof of d a s ti s ervice so far.

W.P. (C) 2 6 OF 2 0 1 6

It is s u b mitt e d th a t th er e ar e 1 0 res pon d e n t s in th e m a t t er a b ov e-m e n tion e d a n d Mr. Purush utt a m Sh ar m a Tripathi, Advoc at e for th e p e tition er h a s filed proof of d a sti for s erving th e copy u po n th e res pond e nt s along with th e a ffidavit. Henc e th e s ervice of notic e is co m plet e u po n all th e re s pon d e nt s.

W.P. (C) 2 7 OF 2 0 1 6

It is s u b mitt e d th a t th er e ar e 3 res pond e nt s in th e m a tt er a b ov e-m e n tion e d. Vakalatn a m a/App e ar a nc e on b e h alf of Respon d e n t No. 2 & 3 h a s b e e n filed b ut n eith er A.D. Card nor u n s erv e d cov er cont aining notice h a s b e e n rec eive d b a ck in res p e ct of Respon d e n t No.1 so far. Henc e s ervice of notic e is inco m plet e u po n Respon d e nt No. 1.

It is furth er s u b mitt e d t h a t Mr. Ajit Sh ar m a, Advoc at e for th e Petition er h a s not filed proof of d a s ti s ervice so far.

W.P. (C) 8 8 OF 2 0 1 6

The Writ Petition a b ov e-m e n tion e d w a s list e d b efore t h e Hon'ble Court on 2 9.02.20 1 6, wh e n th e Hon'ble Court w a s ple a s e d to int er-alia p a s s th e following Ord er:-

"He ard Mr. Colin Gons alve s, learn e d s e nior coun s el for th e p e tition er. xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx x xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Issu e notic e. Dasti, in a d dition, is p er mitt e d. Tag with Writ Petition (Civil) No. 2 4 of 2 0 1 6.

It is s u b mitt e d th a t th er e ar e 3 res pond e nt in th e m a t t er a b ov e-m e n tion e d a n d s how c a u s e notic e h a s b e e n issu e d to th e Respon d e n t s a n d also issu e d to d a s ti notice to th e Couns el for th e p e tition er for s erving th e copy u pon th e res pon d e n ts.

It is furth er s u b mitt e d th at Vakalatn a m a/App e ar a nc e on b e h alf of Respon d e nt No. 3 h a s b e e n filed b ut n eith er A.D. Card nor u ns erv e d cov er cont aining notic e h a s b e e n rec eiv ed b a ck in res p e ct of Respon d e nt No. 1 a n d 2 so far. Henc e, s ervice of notic e is inco m plet e u pon Respond e nt No. 1 a n d 2.

It is n ext s u b mitt e d th a t Mr. Subodh S. Patil, Advoc at e for th e Petition er h a s not filed proof of d a s ti s ervice so far.

The Writ Petitions along with th e a p plications a b ov e-m e n tion e d ar e list e d b efore th e Hon'ble Court with this O ffice Report for Ord ers.

Dat e d this th e 1 4 th d ay of March, 2 0 1 6.

Sd/- Assist a nt Registrar

t4/-