Muruganantham v. The Secretary To Government
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 02.06.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE Muruganantham ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The Additional Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009. 3.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collectorate, Sivagangai.
4.The Assistant Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
5.The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
... Respondents 1/6
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents No.1 to 5 to remove the conditions applicable to Jallikattu to Manjuviratu events and allow the conduct of Manjuviratu events in its original and true form without any interference from any government or westernization thought.
For Petitioner :
Mr.V.Kannan For RR1 to 4 :
Mr.S.P.Maharajan Special Government Pleader For R5 :
Mr.T.Senthil Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor
O R D E R
[Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.] The writ on hand has been instituted to direct Respondents No.1 to 5 to remove the conditions applicable to Jallikattu to Manjuviratu events and allow the conduct of Manjuviratu events in its original and true form without any interference from any government or westernization thought. 2/6
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner would vehemently contend that the rules for Jallikattu are inapplicable to Manjuviratu. Both are distinct and different. The respondents are attempting to adopt the conditions applicable to Jallikattu to Manjuviratu also, which is not acceptable.
3. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf of Respondents No.1 to 4 would oppose by stating that Standard Operating Procedures are already issued by the Government in Letter No. 5516/AH3-2/2023-1, dated 22.12.2023. The said letter remains unchallenged. Thus, the authorities are bound to follow the guidelines for the purpose of granting permission to conduct Jallikattu or Manjuvirattu, as the case may be.
4. The safety and security of the public/visitors and the players are of paramount importance and the Government is duty bound to regulate such guidelines in public interest. Games cannot be allowed to be conducted in an unregulated manner. Therefore, this Court do not find 3/6
any reason to consider the relief sought for in the present writ petition. Consequently, this Writ Petition stands dismissed. However, there shall be no order as to costs.
[S.M.S., J.] [A.D.M.C., J.] 02.06.2025 Index:Yes/No Internet:Yes/No NCC:Yes/No abr 4/6
To 1.The Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009. 2.The Additional Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009. 3.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Collectorate, Sivagangai.
4.The Assistant Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
5.The Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.
5/6
S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.
and DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.
abr 02.06.2025 6/6