State Alone To Organise Jallikattu; Village Committees Have No Independent Right: Madras High Court
A petition was filed seeking an order directing authorities to grant permission and provide police protection for a Jallikattu event.
The Madras High Court ruled that village committees do not possess an independent right to organize the Jallikattu festival at Avaniyapuram, as the event is internationally recognized and directly organized by the State.
A petition was filed seeking an order directing authorities to grant permission and provide police protection for a Jallikattu event proposed to be held on January 15.
A Division Bench of Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan observed that under the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, the festival is conducted by revenue officials of the State, with the assistance of villagers who are part of an advisory committee.
The Court noted, “As per the 2009 Act for Regulating Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Animal Welfare Department vide communication dated 21.11.2025, Jallikattu at Avaniyapuram is organized by the Revenue Officials of the State with the assistance of villagers, who form part of the Advisory Committee."
Background
The petitioner who identified himself as the President of the Avaniyapuram Village Jallikattu Committee, argued that the advisory committee should include collective representation from all communities in the village. In response, the Additional Advocate General assured the Court that the advisory committee would be constituted in line with previous practices and the guidelines issued by the High Court in a series of writ petitions in 2020.
Finding
The Court accepted the State’s position regarding the special status of the event. It observed, "Considering the international importance of the Jallikattu conducted at Avaniyapuram, Alanganallur and Palamedu, the State itself is directly organizing the events.”
The Court held that the petitioner could not independently request permission for his committee to conduct Jallikattu at Avaniyapuram. The Court clarified that the Jallikattu event at Avaniyapuram would continue to be organized by the State in accordance with the statutory framework.
Cause Title: P. Murugan vs. District Collector & Ors.
Appearance:
Petitioner: Senior Advocate Meenakshi Sundaram, Advocate M. Sangeetha.
Respondent: Additional Advocate General Veera Kathiravan, Special Government Pleader S.P. Maharajan, Advocate K. Gnanasekaran.
