Nod given for ‘jallikattu’ at Kandipatti

The traditional bull taming sport organised in the village for 200 years will be held this year also on January 18.

The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday granted permission for jallikattu at Kandipatti village in Sivaganga district on Saturday.

A Division Bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and V.M. Velumani granted permission based on a writ petition filed by S. Ramaiya, president of jallikattu organising committee in Kandipatti.

In his petition, Mr. Ramaiya stated that he had submitted a petition to the Sivaganga district collector on January 10 seeking permission for jallikattu on January 18.

According to him, the traditional bull taming sport was organised in the village for 200 years.

Earlier, after the petitioner approached the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, a division bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and N. Kirubakaran heard the matter at a special hearing on January 13. They had ordered notice to the Sivaganga Collector.

On Friday, the government advocate submitted that the Collector denied permission because the organisers sought permission only on January 10, as against the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, according to which the application should be submitted 30 days in advance.

In their order, the judges granted permission for the jallikattu and directed the organisers to adhere to the Supreme Court guidelines and provide adequate safety measures for the bulls and the tamers.