Animal Welfare Board Of India vs A. Nagaraja & Ors

The Madras High Court addressed the legality of the TNRJ Act and the MoEF Notification dated 11.07.2011, which prohibits bullock-cart races and Jallikattu, under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act), specifically Sections 3, 11(1)(a) & (m), and 22. The court held that these traditional events violate animal welfare laws and that the PCA Act supersedes any cultural claims made in their defense. The court affirmed the MoEF's authority to issue the notification banning such practices, emphasizing the protection of animals from unnecessary suffering as paramount under Article 21 and Article 51A(g) of the Constitution of India.