Maharashtra govt gives green signal to Bullock cart race.

Maharashtra’s traditional sports Bullock cart race has been given the green signal by Maharashtra govt as it has passed the bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals act 1960 which has paved the way for legalising the bullock car races in the state.

Earlier the Supreme court has forbidden the practice of Bulock cart race along with Jallikattu in 2014.Bullock cart is a festival of Pune and it is known by different names in the different parts like “Chakadi”, “Bailgada Sharyat” , or “Shankar Paat”.

The bill was tabled in the Lower House by Animal Husbandry Minister Mahadev Jankar.

Last week, the state Cabinet had decided to appoint a cabinet sub-committee to study the draft of the amendment bill to revoke the ban on bullock-cart racing.

The reasoning given to the amendment is to follow and promote tradition and culture and ensure the preservation of native breeds of bulls as also their purity, safety, security and well-being.

As per new law, Bullock cart races could be conducted with the prior permission of the collector on the condition of no pain or suffering envisaged by any person or person in charge of the animal used to conduct the bullock cart race.

According to the amendment, any person found guilty of injuring or causing harm to the animal shall be punished with three years imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.

As per sec 28 (2) organising bullock cart races to follow and promote tradition and culture will not be an offence.