The Madras High Court has firmly denied relief to a man who sought permission for his village committee to conduct jallikattu in Madurai district. The court's decision came in response to a petition filed by P Murugan, the president of the Avaniyapuram Village Jallikattu Committee.
Court Rejects Independent Request
In his petition, Murugan requested a direction to the authorities. He wanted them to permit the village committee to organize jallikattu at Avaniyapuram on January 15. The petitioner also asked for adequate police protection during the event. However, the court did not grant this relief.
State's Stance on Jallikattu Organization
The state government submitted its position clearly during the proceedings. According to the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009, and the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the animal welfare department on November 21, 2025, jallikattu at Avaniyapuram is organized by revenue officials. These officials receive assistance from villagers, who form part of an advisory committee.
Bench's Observations on Event Importance
A division bench of Justice G Jayachandran and Justice K K Ramakrishnan made key observations. They noted that jallikattu events at Avaniyapuram, Alanganallur, and Palamedu hold international importance. Due to this significance, the state itself directly organizes these events. Therefore, the petitioner cannot make any independent request to grant permission for his committee to conduct jallikattu at Avaniyapuram.
Advisory Committee Composition Discussed
During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel raised another point. They argued that at least the advisory committee must consist of collective representation from all communities in that village. In response, the state submitted that the committee would be constituted as per the practice in previous years. The state also considered guidelines issued by this court on a batch of petitions in 2020.
Final Disposal of the Petition
After recording all submissions, the judges disposed of the petition. The court's decision underscores the state's direct involvement in organizing major jallikattu events. This ruling highlights the legal framework governing traditional sports in Tamil Nadu.
