Madras High CourtWP Crl.(MD)/2875/2026allowed

Maruthairaja v. The District Collector,

2026-05-27Honourable Mr Justice K.Murali Shankar8 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 27.05.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.MURALI SHANKAR W.P.Crl.(MD) No.2875 of 2026 Maruthairaja

...Petitioner

Vs.

1.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Dindigul District.

2.The Superintendent of Police, Office of the Superindent of Police, Dindigul District.

3.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nilakottai, Dindigul District.

4.The Inspector of Police, Batlagundu Police Station, Dindigul District.

5.The Regional Joint Director, District Animal Husbandry Veterinary Service Department, Dindigul District.

6.The Assistant Director, District Animal Husbandry Veterinary Service Department, Kodaikanal, Dindigul District.

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7.The Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Government Veterinary Hospital, Batlagundu, Dindigul District.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records relating to the impugned order dated 24.05.2026 passed by the fourth respondent, rejecting permission to conduct Cock Fight and to quash the same, consequently, directing the respondents 2 to 4 to grant permission and adequate police protection for conducting cock fight in connection with Shri Muthalamman Kovil festival at the backside of Naveen Backery, Batlagundu Bypass Road, Nilakottai Circle, Dindigul District on 27.05.2026, 28.05.2026 and 29.05.2026.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Karthick Kumar For R1, R5 to R7 : Mr.I.Pinaygash, Government Advocate(Crl.side) For R2 to R4 : Mr.S.Sivasubramanian, Counsel for State of Tamil Nadu (Crl.side)

ORDER

The present Writ Petition has been filed seeking to quash the order passed by the fourth respondent herein on 24.05.2026, whereby the request of the writ petitioner for conducting cock fight on 27.05.2026, 28.05.2026 and 29.05.2026 has been rejected.

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2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the writ petitioner seeks permission to conduct the cock fight on 27.05.2026, 28.05.2026 and 29.05.2026.

3.The learned Counsel for State of Tamil Nadu (Crl.side) appearing for the respondents 2 to 4 would submit that the impugned rejection order, dated 24.05.2026 was passed on the ground that there is every possibility for law and order problem issue, if such programme is proceeded with. 4.Except the above, no other reason was assigned in the impugned order for rejecting the petitioner's claim. Hence, the impugned order is liable to be set aside and is set aside.

5.At this juncture, the learned Counsel for State of Tamil Nadu (Crl.side) appearing for the respondents would submit that the petitioner may be permitted to conduct cock fight on 28.05.2026 during day time and the organizers may be directed to follow the conditions to be imposed. He would further submit that the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu / Head of State 3/8

Police Force, Tamil Nadu had issued circular in RC.No.6898194/Crime 4(3)/2024 dated 13.03.2024 regarding conduct of events involving animals and birds across the State and they are ready to follow the aforesaid circular and that the writ petitioner may be directed to give fresh representation along with undertaking affidavit and that they are ready to consider the same. 5.The learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner would submit that they will follow the directions to be imposed by the Court as well as the respondent police.

6.Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel on either side and taking note of the detailed circular and guidelines issued by the Director General of Police, the petitioner is directed to give fresh representation along with undertaking affidavit to the fourth respondent and on such receipt, the fourth respondent is directed to consider the same, by taking into consideration the Circular Memorandum dated 13.03.2024 issued by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, / Head of State Police Force, Chennai - 600 004, in RC.No.6898194/Crime 4(3)/2024, for conducting "Cock Fight" schedule to be held on 28.05.2026 during day time in connection with Shri Muthalamman Kovil festival at the backside of Naveen Backery, Batlagundu 4/8

Bypass Road, Nilakottai Circle, Dindigul District subject to the following conditions:

(i) At the time of event, there should not be any betting, the cocks should not be intoxicated and no knives or blades should be tied around the legs of the cocks.

(ii) It is also made clear that neither the petitioner nor any of the parties/participants shall indulge in any gambling activities. Also they will not involve in any breach of peace of communal clash. (iii) Also the organizers of the festival shall obtain permission from the Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry of the District concerned. After obtaining permission, the Respondents 1 and 2 shall pass appropriate orders.

(iv)The event shall be supervised by the respondents as well as the Veterinary Doctor of near by Government Veterinary Hospital. (v)The organizers of the event shall bear the expenses towards police protection as well as the expenses towards the Veterinary doctor.

(vi) All the above terms and conditions should be followed by the petitioner as well as the organizers of the event and the organizers of the event shall file an affidavit of undertaking to the said effect before the Respondents. Only on filing of such 5/8

undertaking, the Respondent Police shall accord permission for conducting the event.

8.It is also made clear that the aforesaid conditions shall be strictly followed during the event and if there is any violation, it is open to the respondent police to take action immediately in accordance with law. 9.With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. 27.05.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No gns To 1.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Dindigul District.