An interim order passed by the Madras High Court Bench here on January 12 permitting the conduct of jallikattu in eight places in Madurai, Tiruchi and Sivaganga districts has led to the filing of a number of writ petitions seeking permission for jallikattu, ‘manju virattu' and ‘erudhu kattu' (different forms of sports involving bulls) in other places too.
Hearing one such case, a Division Bench of Justices Chitra Venkataraman and R. Karuppiah on Tuesday granted permission for ‘manju virattu' in Periyakalayamputhur in Dindigul district on January 28.
The organisers of this event were told to follow the guidelines imposed in the batch of cases earlier and file a report by January 30, the next date of hearing of those cases.
Again on Wednesday, the judges came across another writ petition filed by A. Arul Raj of Kosavapatti in Dindigul district. He sought permission to conduct jallikattu in his village on February 10 in view of St. Antony's festival in Uthirya Matha Kovil. This case was adjourned to Friday for want of appearance of counsel for the Animal Welfare Board of India. The same day, one more writ petition came up before Justice K.K. Sasidharan seeking permission for ‘erudhu kattu' in Madurai district. However, the single judge directed the High Court Registry to post the matter before the Division Bench. Subsequently, another petition was also filed seeking permission for jallikattu in Pugailaipatti in Dindigul district on February 15.
In the meantime, certified copies of the interim order passed by the Bench on January 12 restricting the conduct of jallikattu in Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur in Madurai district; Siravayal and Karungulam in Sivaganga district and Periyasuriyur , Palakurichi and Kandipatti in Tiruchi district between January 15 and 29, was issued to counsel on record on Tuesday.
As per the order, the judges had decided to allow the events, despite a notification issued by the Centre on July 11 banning the use of bulls as performing animals, by taking into consideration the sentiments attached to the event.
