The seven days of jallikattu protests

The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation petition seeking to restrain the Home Secretary and Director General of Police from taking into “illegal custody” those protesting in favour Jallikattu across the State besides forbearing the officials from “causing nuisance” to the protesters in an attempt to dilute the agitation.

A Division Bench of Justices A. Selvam and P. Kalaiyarasan refused to entertain the case on the ground that the petitioner’s plea was not legally maintainable. P. Vinoth Kumar of Thirumanagalam near here had filed the petition accusing the police of causing various kinds of disturbances in order to quell the protests led by college students and supported by many others.

They judges also recorded the submission of Special Government Pleader M. Govindan that the petitioner had filed the case with false allegations and that there was no question of taking anyone into illegal custody. “This is a publicity interest litigation... The government is taking all efforts to resolve the issue. The Chief Minister has met the Prime Minister too today,” he told the court.