India’s top court halts bull running festival

(FILES) - A file picture taken on January 15, 2013 shows Indian participants attempting to hold down a bull during the traditional bull taming festival called 'Jallikattu' in Palamedu near Madurai, around 500km south of Chennai. India lifted a ban on January 7, 2016 on a popular but controversial bull running festival, angering animal rights activists who say it is cruel and abusive. AFP PHOTO / FILES

NEW DELHI: India’s top court on Tuesday stayed a government decision to allow a popular bull running festival to go ahead after animal rights activists challenged the move.

With just days to go before the start of the festival, the court said it would issue a temporary stay order on the government’s decision to reverse a 2014 ban.