The ministry's unhappiness with the AWBI's chairperson Major General (Retd.) Dr.R.M.Kharb has fuelled speculation that he may be asked to resign from the top post, although it could not confirmed through ministry officials.
Miffed with the Animal Welfare Board of India's (AWBI) public defiance of its decision to lift the ban on Jallikattu, the union environment ministry has pulled up the statutory advisory body's chairperson and asked him why he did not resign before challenging their decision in the Supreme Court on Monday.
The ministry's unhappiness with the AWBI's chairperson Major General (Retd.) Dr.R.M.Kharb has fuelled speculation that he may be asked to resign from the top post, although it could not confirmed through ministry officials.
Ministry sources told dna that a final decision on Kharb is yet to be taken and that the ministry is likely to wait for his explanation before taking a call. Meanwhile, Kharb told dna that though he was asked for an explanation, he was not asked to resign yet.
"I was called by some senior officials who asked as to why I did not resign before challenging the ministry's decision in the apex court. I have not been asked to step down, neither have I been issued any notice," Major General (Retd.) Dr.R.M.Kharb told dna. But Kharb added that he was simply doing what was in his mandate. "Our mandate is to protect animals and we had clearly shown how the sport is cruel to animals while 17 people died in four years. We have only reiterated whatever was specified in the Supreme Court's landmark order on Jallikattu."
Earlier on Monday, the AWBI and People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation and Compassion Unlimited Plus Action moved Supreme Court challenging the union environment ministry's amended notification that paved the way for allowing Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu this Pongal. AWBI has appealed for contempt of court against the Centre.
It was on Friday that the union environment ministry amended its 2011 notification lifting the ban Jallikattu, a rural festival where bulls are tamed by their horns, head and tail. The Supreme Court's May 2014 order had said that Jallikattu inherently violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The Centre's decision has come under fire for being inconsiderate towards animal welfare and populist, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The amendment of the ministry's 2011 notification also allowed bullock cart racing in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab and Haryana.
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