New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) As protests swelled in Tamil Nadu, the Government today paved the way for the return of the popular and traditional bull taming sport of Jallikattu in the state by clearing an ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The Ordinance nullifies the ban on the sport put by the Supreme Court in 2014, which had evoked strong protests from across the state. The Law Minister this evening signed the ordinance and it will now go to President Pranab Mukherjee for his sign, sources said here. A draft of the ordinance had earlier been sent to the Centre by the state government. For the last four days, lakhs of youth and students had been staging demonstrations on Marina beach in Chennai for restoration of Jallikattu, and life was crippled today due to the dusk to dawn strike supported by the trade unions and various other organisations, with the backing of some political parties, in support of the sport. Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave had in the morning given the indication that the ordinance was coming when he said, "We respect the sentiments of people and the cultural values of Tamil Nadu. We hope to come to some conclusion in the shortest possible time." Earlier, several AIADMK MPs met the Home Minister and urged him for promulgation of Ordinance to allow Jallikattu. The Supreme Court today deferred its order on Jallikattu by a week, on the request of the Union government. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned before the Justice Dipak Misra, that the Jallikattu judgement should be deferred by one week as the Union and State Government were trying to resolve the issue. UNI NAZ SB 2034