Updated

New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI): The Supreme Court today agreed not to pass judgement for a week on the Jallikattu issue while taking into account the Centre's submission that they were in talks with Tamil Nadu to find a way out in the matter.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R Banumati that people of Tamil Nadu are "passionate" about Jallikattu and the Central government and the state are trying to resolve the issue.

"The Centre and the state are in talks to find a way out in the matter and our request is that the court should not deliver the judgement for at least a week," Rohatgi told the bench. Hearing the AG's brief submission, the bench said "Okay".

Yesterday, the apex court said the issue of protecting the agitating supporters of the bull-taming sport can be raised before the Madras High Court. The apex court had reserved its verdict on December 7 last year on a batch of petitions challenging the Centre's notification allowing the sport.

On the next day, the Centre had issued a notification lifting the ban on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions, which was challenged in the apex court by Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals India, a Bangalore-based NGO and others.

The Supreme Court had on January 21 last year refused to re-examine its 2014 judgement banning use of bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country. It had also stayed the January 8 notification of Centre and questioned the Centre over the notification allowing use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, saying that its 2014 verdict banning the use of the animals cannot be "negated".

The court in its 2014 judgement had said that bulls cannot be used as performing animals, either for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races in the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or elsewhere in the country, and had banned their use across the country. The apex court had also earlier declared Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009 as constitutionally void, being violative of Article 254(1) of the Constitution.

Earlier Report

Jallikattu: Stalin, Kanimozhi among DMK leaders held; protesters stay put

Chennai, Jan 20 (PTI): Scores of DMK workers, including party's working secretary M K Stalin were today detained for staging rail roko on Jallikattu issue, even as protesters stayed put at Marina beach here and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu notwithstanding the Chief Minister's assurance that an ordinance for conduct of the sport will be issued soon. Stalin, also Opposition leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, was detained along with scores of supporters when he staged a rail blockade at suburban Mambalam Railway Station.

Other DMK leaders, including party MP Kanimozhi and former union minister Dayanidhi Maran, as also senior leaders, participated in the state-wide rail roko held by the party. As some traders bodies and unions had given a strike call for today in support of Jallikattu, a large number of shops and business establishments remained shut in the state.

A large number of autorickshaws also kept off the roads across Tamil Nadu, even as fewer buses plied. The cinema industry also embarked on a silent protest, with both actors and actresses wearing black outfits. Meanwhile protesters, especially at Alangalllur in Madurai, vowed to continue their protest till a permanent solution was found to the vexed issue and hold the bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu, despite the Chief Minister's announcement.

A Nagapattinam report said that 2,000 mechanised fishing boat owners and thousands of country boat owners did not put out sea, extending support to the protesters. In Rameswaram, all shops remained closed and pilgrims had a tough time getting even food in the island.

Following the protests, Southern Railway announced full and partial cancellation of some trains, besides diversion of others. Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu asked the protestors not to cause inconvenience to the poor. "Rail is preferred mode of transport for poor, common people. Please don't disrupt traffic, cause inconvenience to those who can't afford other," he said in a tweet.

Earlier Report

Chennai, Jan 20 (IANS): Massive protests across Tamil Nadu in support of Jallikattu, the bull taming sport, intensified on Friday with traders downing their shutters, taxi, auto-rickshaw and truck operators staying off the roads.

The DMK party has announced to hold protests on rail tracks which prompted the Southern Railway to cancel four trains and partial operation of few others.

State government employees have decided to take out a procession while the central government and public sector organisations functioned.

The bank unions have extended their support to the protests.

The movie industry has cancelled shooting and theatre halls would remain closed on Friday.

In some districts schools were also closed.

Thousands of youth sat through Thursday night in Chennai's Marina beach hoping for some good news from Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam who expected to arrive here on Friday from Delhi following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per available indications the state government is expected to come out with a law allowing conduct of Jallikattu.

The Supreme Court in May 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including bullock-cart races.

Since then, people have been urging the central government to take steps to allow the sport.

The common complaint among the protest leaders was that the Supreme Court had insulted Tamil culture by disallowing the traditional sport observed during the harvest festival of Pongal.

In Tamil Nadu, the protests began on Tuesday morning following the arrest of protesters in Madurai district's Alanganallur town, well known for conducting the sport.

In Jallikattu, a bull vaulter is expected to hang on to the animal's hump for a stipulated distance or for a minimum of three jumps by the bull.

In Madurai large number of youth are continuing their protest in support of the state's ancient sport.