Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has stated that Jallikattu is not like IPL matches, which can be organized by private individuals. A man named Murugan from Avaniapuram in Madurai had filed a petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. In his petition, he appealed that the Jallikattu festival should be organized at the village level, not at a private level.
He told the court that the traditional Jallikattu would be held in Avaniapuram on the first day of the Tamil month of Thai (January 15). This has been organized by the villagers for more than 100 years. Murugan stated in his petition that after the Supreme Court allowed the organization of Jallikattu in 2017, the Thenkal Kanmai Irrigation Farmers and Jallikattu Association organized the Avaniapuram Jallikattu festival in 2018. Both organizations belong to the same family. This was a private event, which should not have been permitted. He approached the Madurai High Court on this issue.
Following the Supreme Court’s order, the court had directed the district administration to organize the Jallikattu festival and include a 16-member advisory committee. Consequently, the district administration has been continuously organizing Jallikattu.
Separately, the Thenkal Kanmai Irrigation Farmers and Jallikattu Association submitted an application to the district administration. They requested permission to organize Jallikattu at a private level. They requested that the Avaniapuram Jallikattu festival, scheduled for January 15, be allowed to be organized by a village committee comprising representatives from Avaniapuram village and all communities. They stated that the district administration is making arrangements to organize Jallikattu. Therefore, an order should be issued granting permission to the village committee, comprising representatives from Avaniapuram village and all communities, to organize Jallikattu. Murugan’s petition was heard on Wednesday before a bench comprising Justices Jayachandran and Ramakrishnan. The judges observed, “Jallikattu is not like an IPL match. Permission for Jallikattu was granted only after several protests and difficulties. Many problems arose because some individuals organized Jallikattu. Therefore, it would be best for the government to organize it.”
They further added, “The Jallikattu festivals in Avaniapuram, Palamedu, and Alanganallur are famous worldwide. In such a scenario, it would not be appropriate for private individuals to organize these festivals. Therefore, it is correct that the government should organize Jallikattu in Avaniapuram, Palamedu, and Alanganallur.” With this order, it became clear that Jallikattu cannot be organized at the private level.
