PANJIM : People for Animals (PFA), an animal welfare NGO, which ensured that bull fights were banned through High Court order years ago, has welcomed the decision of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to ban use of bulls as performing animals.

The notification issued by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)  dated July 11, 2011 has listed bulls among six species of animals who cannot be used as a performing animals under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The notification also bans use of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions as animals that should not be trained or exhibited as performing animals.

Welcoming the decision, PFA president Norma Alvares has said, “the notification has proved that what we were fighting for years ago was indeed right and these animals needed protection.”

“It was we who placed the facts before High Court that bull fights in Goa is basically cruelty of animals and violation of the Act,” Alvares said. 

The Bombay High Court at Goa in a petition filed by People for Animals (PFA) had passed the judgment in 1996 stating that, ‘it is necessary to issue directions to take all the steps to give full effect to the provisions contained in the said act and thereby to prevent cruelty to animals, prohibiting bull fights and all other fights of like nature involving animals including birds which can cause injuries and cruelty to the animals’.

The judgment passed by division bench comprising of Justices R K Batta and R M S Khandeparkar also stated that ‘The facts brought on record also show that these bull fights are not only blessed by politicians but by the police officers of the rank of DySP...There appears to be either lack of courage or willful negligence on the part of the state government’.

Bull fights, which is a popular sport in the coastal belt, was banned through a High Court order in 1996 there were several attempts by politicians to revive them.

Goa State Legislative assembly in May 2009 had moved a bill to legalise bullfighting in the state. But it did not receive Governor’s assent after environmentalists protested against it. The letters were also written to President of India requesting not to give assent to the bill.

The issue attained political importance during Parliamentary election when Congress Candidate Francisco Sardinha assured to move a bill in the Parliament, regarding bullfights, if he was voted to power.

Sardinha in 2009 had moved an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act which if passed would legalise bull fighting in Goa. Congress Parliamentarian had to withdraw the legislation after then Minister for Environment and Forest Jayram Ramesh and others opposed it.

The minister had said that besides cruelty to animals,  heavy gambling and betting takes place during such fights. He had said that such traditions need not be continued especially when it is seen that they are not in consonance with right thinking.