MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High court directed the Madurai District Collector to ensure that jallikattu is not organised in M Keelapatti village in Usilampatti taluk until further orders from the court.
A division bench of Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice G M Akbar Ali issued this direction on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by T Rasu, founder and managing trustee, Sri Kamba Kamakshi, Karuppusamy Jallikattu Vizha Tharmaparibalana Sabai.
In his petition, Rasu contended that his organisation was conducting jallikattu for the past 40 years. The claim of a rival group to conduct it was dismissed in 2008 by the Madurai Bench. Jallikatu was conducted by his organisation in the subsequent years, claimed Rasu. During the current year too, the jallikattu was conducted by the petitioner’s organisation on March 26 after getting permission from the Madurai Bench.
Meanwhile, P Thevar of the same village, approached the court and got an order on May 24 to conduct jallikatu once again this year on May 31. But he had suppressed the fact that jallikatu was already conducted on March 26. Rasu prayed for a stay on the May 24 order permitting Thevar to conduct jallikatu.
After hearing the arguments, the bench issued directions to the District Collector to ensure that jallikattu was not conducted in M Keelapatti village till further orders of the court and posted the case for Thursday for further hearing.