P.Mohan v. State By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 10-06-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN P.Mohan S/o.Pandiyan ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. State by The Superintendent of Police, Ranipet District, Ranipet.
2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Arakkonam Sub Division, Arakkonam, Ranipet District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Thakkolam Police Station, Ranipet District.
..Respondent(s) PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a WRIT OF CERTIORARIFIED MANDAMUS calling for the records in the order Na.Ka.No.004/Ka.Aa.Tha/Ka/2026 dated 03.06.2026 passed by the 3rd respondent and quashing the same, and directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to held a Barefoot Cock fighting competition in Thakolam, Arakkonam Circle, Ranipet District, on the occasion of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's birthday on 20.6.2026 and 21.06.2026. For Petitioner(s):
Mr.P.Pugalenthi For Respondent(s):
Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side) - R1 to R3
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed calling for records of the impugned order passed by the third respondent dated 03.06.2026 in Na.Ka.No.004/Ka.Aa.Tha/Ka/2026 and quash the same, and consequently direct the respondents to grant permission and police protection to conduct a Barefoot Cock fight competition in Thakolam, Arakkonam Circle, Ranipet District, on the occasion of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's birthday on 20.6.2026 and 21.06.2026.
2.Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
3.It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner along with a group of persons constituted a committee in their village, and has been conducting cock fight for several years on various occasions in a grand and peaceful manner without any gambling. The said 'cock fight' is one of the ancient game being organized and conducted in temple festivals and other special occasions in the country side.
4. In the recent years, when such function was organized by the petitioner and his group, the respondent police did not give permission or protection and
therefore, the petitioner had to approach this court by filing writ petitions and orders were obtained. In this regard, the learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon the orders passed in earlier years i.e., 2014, 2015 as well as in the year 2017. In those years, pursuant to the directions issued by this court, in the respective writ petitions, permission as well as protection was given by the respondent police for smooth conduct of the 'cock fight' on the eve of the festival celebrations.
5. On the eve of the said celebrations, the petitioner and his group has organized the 'cock fight', this year also and for the purpose of celebrating the birthday occasion of the Chief Minister, in order to get permission and police protection, the petitioner had already given a representation to the respondents to conduct cock fight on 20.06.2026 and 21.06.2026. However, the same was rejected by the 3rd respondent police vide impugned order dated 03.06.2026. Hence, prays for appropriate orders.
6.The learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the respondents, submitted that, in the name of 'cock fight' untoward incidents are allowed to be happened in the locality. Hence, the respondent police are more cautious in granting permission and therefore, if the conditions imposed by this Court in the earlier orders for granting permission for conducting 'cock fight' are imposed along with some additional conditions to ensure the smooth conducting
of such function, the respondents would consider the said request of the petitioner for grant of permission or police bandobust.
7. As has been pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner, in the year 2013 itself in W.P.No.635 of 2013, a learned Judge of this Court vide order dated 08.01.2017, passed the following order : "In the light of the above said earlier Division bench orders, this writ petition stands disposed of with a direction to the respondents to give permission to conduct the cock fight by the petitioner on 17.01.2013 and 18.01.2013 with the supervision of the second respondent as well as any one of the veterinary doctor from Valakkanampoondi Puthu Village, R.K.Pettai Post, Tiruttani Taluk, Tiruvallur District for the purpose of diagnosis of the birds. The petitioner is directed to bear the expenses for providing police supervision and the veterinary doctor attending the supervision."
8. Like that, similar orders were passed in the year 2014 also in W.P.No.47 of 2014 on 07.01.2014. Even in the last year i.e., 2017, a detailed order has been passed in W.P.No.5687 of 2017, by order dated 10.03.2017. All these years, the said writ petitions had been filed by the petitioner on behalf of the group of people, who organise and conduct such 'cock fight'. In view of the earlier orders passed by this court, pursuant to which, the function as well as the 'cock fight' since had been smoothly run by the petitioner and his group, this court is of the view that there can be no impediment in granting similar
direction to the respondents for this year also for the consideration of granting of permission and police bandobust for the petitioner for conducting the function and the 'cock fight'. Accordingly, the following orders are passed in this writ petition.
9.The respondents are directed to grant permission and give police bandobust to the petitioner and his group of persons, who are the organizers of the said occasion for conducting cock fight on 20.06.2026 and 21.06.2026 between 09.00 am and 06.00 pm at Thakolam, Arakkonam Circle, Ranipet District, by imposing the following conditions: "(i)It is made clear that such an event shall be supervised by the first respondent as well as by the Veterinary Doctor of nearby Government Veterinary Hospital.
(ii)It is further made clear that during the course of conducting 'cock fight', there should not be any injury to be caused to the birds and the birds should not be intoxicated, with any alcoholic substance and no knives should be tied around the legs of the birds, with the tip of the knives dipped in poisonous substances. The Veterinary Doctor shall ensure the same before the actual starting of the event. (iii)The petitioner shall bear the expenses
towards police protection as well as the expenses towards the Veterinary Doctor.
(iv)It is made clear that the organiser should take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident while conducting the event of cock- fight. (v) Songs praising communal leader or having communal overtones should not be played.
(vi)The petitioner will ensure that no flex board or hoardings depicting particular community or leader is displayed.
(vii) All the above terms and conditions should be followed scrupulously by the petitioner and the petitioner shall file an affidavit of undertaking to the said effect before the second respondent.
(viii) The petitioner volunteers to donate a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees ten Thousand only) to any one of the Orphanages in the District and payment of proof shall be produced before the second respondent. (ix) No one is allowed to enter, except the owner of the Birds which are going to participate in the event.
(x) There is a separate place allocated for the spectators.
(xii) According to the conditions, eligible birds are only allowed to participate in the event. If there is any certain objections being raised, it is taken to the concerned police office to take a decision."
10. It is made clear that the aforesaid conditions shall be strictly followed by the petitioner and his group on all the two days in the entire function from 20.06.2026 to 21.06.2026 between 09.00 am and 06.00 pm and if any violation of these conditions is reported, the respondents police are at liberty to take appropriate action against the petitioner and his group. 11.In view of the above, the impugned order dated 03.06.2026 passed by the 3rd respondent cannot be sustained and is liable to be quashed. Accordingly, the impugned order passed by the 3rd respondent dated 03.06.2026 in Na.Ka. No.004/Ka.Aa.Tha/Ka/2026, is hereby quashed.
12. In the result, this Writ Petition petition is allowed. No costs. 10-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order kas
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
kas To
1. The Superintendent of Police, Ranipet District, Ranipet.
2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Arakkonam Sub Division, Arakkonam, Ranipet District.
3. The Inspector of Police, Thakkolam Police Station, Ranipet District.
10-06-2026