Madras HC Frames Guidelines For Conducting 'Jallikettu' [Read Order]

The Division Bench of the Madras High Court, Justices M.Duraiswamy and T.Ravindran framed guidelines for conducting the much debated festival 'Jallikkattu'. The petitioner prayed to direct the District Collector and the Revenue DIvisional Officer, Madurai District to include the representatives of Gounder, Yadhavar, Vellalar, Pandaaram & Vanaar Community and all other lacking communities of Alanganallur Village in "Jallikattu Vizha" Committee formed to conduct and support the "Jallikattu" event for the year 2020. The petitions further prayed to ensure that all communities of Alangallur village to receive just and fair treatment in case of composition and constitution of such committees in future Jallikkattu events. The court noticed that a similar petition K.M.Thiruppathy v. The Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu & Ors. was filed in the year 2019 concerning the conduct of Aniyapuram Jallikattu festival. Subsequently, the court ordered for the formation of two Committees to regulate the conduct of Jallikattu on the day of Pongal festival. Since the parties unanimously agreed for the terms imposed by the court, the Jallikattu festival was conducted in a peaceful manner. Therefore, the court in the instant case directed for the formation of two Committees. Firstly, the Jallikattu Organizing Committee which was headed by a Chairman (C. Manickam, Rtd. Principal District Judge) and Members (including District Collector and Inspector General of Police, Madurai) Secondly, an Advisory Committee was appointed with 36 Members comprising the residents of Alangallur. In addition the court issued the following directions: (1) The Jallikattu for this year would be conducted by the Organizing Committee; (2) The Organizing Committee shall open bank accounts in any of the banks at Madurai and Alanganallur for deposit of donation/contribution for the conduct of Jallikattu. The Committee shall give receipts for the payments received and similarly, they must keep proper accounts of all the transactions in connection with the conduct of Jallikattu; (3) The District Level Committee constituted by the District Collector under the Chairmanship of Revenue Divisional Officer shall give all the necessary assistance to the Organizing Committee; (4) The Organizing Committee should ensure that the event is conducted in an orderly manner; (5) The District Administration and Police must provide all the assistance at the (i) Point of entry of Bulls; (ii) medical examination point of bulls; (iii) Vadi Vasal Point; and (iv) Bulls collection point; (6) There should be sufficient space for stationing the bulls and it must be ensured that the bulls are medically examined before taking part in the event; (7) The Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Madurai and the Superintendent of Police, Madurai District, must post sufficient police officers under the control of a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the following points: (i) Main assembly point of bulls. (ii) The area from main Assembly point to the Medical Examination Centre. (iii) Medical Centre for bulls. (iv) Vadi Vasal Backside. (v) Bulls trainers checking point; (8) The District Committee constituted by the District Collector must comprise the following: 1. Revenue Divisional Officer, Madurai, 2. Additional Superintendent of Police, Madurai, 3. Executive Officer, Alanganallur Town Panchayat, 4. Deputy Director (Health) Madurai 5. Regional Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Madurai 6. Executive Engineer (Building and Maintenance), Public Works Department, Madurai 7. Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Madurai. 8. Regional Fire and Rescue Officer, Madurai 9. District Tourist Officer, Madurai; (9) The Organizing Committee must ensure that the stage is not occupied by the members of the Advisory Committee or others on any account; (10) The role of Advisory Committee is only to assist the Organizing Committee. They have no independent right to conduct the Jallikattu; (11) The Organizing Committee shall give a press release informing the public not to give donation to any of the public including the Organizers, who were part of the event earlier. The donation should be given only to the members of the Organizing Committee; (12) The Superintendent of Police shall post a superior officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police at the site for co-ordination with the Organizing Committee. Similarly, the District Collector must also depute a senior officer in the rank of a District Revenue Officer to assist the Organizing Committee. This would be in addition to the District Level Committee constituted by the District Collector; (13) The District Collector shall convene a meeting of the Organizing Committee, Revenue and Police officials preferably on 14.01.2020 and not later than 16.01.2020 to discuss about the conduct of Jallikattu; (14) There should not be any kind of first right...

Madras HC Frames Guidelines For Conducting 'Jallikettu' [Read Order]

Arabhi Anandan

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