K MADHAVAN Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD the counsel for the parties. This writ petition has been filed by one K. Madhavan in public interest praying for a writ of mandamus to be issued by this Court directing the respondents to prevent the 'erudhattam' to be held at Muthu Muniappan Temple, Koodalur village, Magudavanchavadi P. O. , Salem District, in view of the representation dated 29. 8. 2008 sent by the petitioner.

(2.) IN the writ petition, it has been averred that every year in the Tamil month of 'aavani', in the aforesaid Sri Muthu Muniappan Temple, an event called 'erudhattam' is conducted and this year, the said event is scheduled to be held tomorrow, i. e. , 5. 9. 2008. It is further averred that people from the surrounding villages take part in the said event and for this purpose, they bring in more than 100 bulls from their respective villages. Such bulls are kept in the temple place in the petitioner's village 15 days before the said event. In the said event, a kind of sport or game is organized in which the bull is tied by its neck with nylon ropes from both sides and the participants hold the ropes. A big mud doll tied in a bamboo is shown in front of the bull, which is for the purpose of frightening the bull. As a result of such strategies being adopted by the villagers, the bull gets angry and attacks the mud doll. In this process, the bull tries to run here and there, but the people who hold the ropes on both sides prevent the bull from running further and in this manner, the bulls are being tortured. The bulls are tethered and brought to their village in a procession, accompanied by firing of crackers and beating of drums and the bulls are not given any food or water, thereby subjecting them to cruelty. It is averred that this kind of a sport involves a risk to the lives of the participants and the spectators inasmuch as the bulls may, under the torture and pain suffered by them, run into the spectators and injure them. It is also averred that the bulls are subjected to whipping, beating and twisting of their tails, pulling of their hind legs etc. As a result of such activities in the said sport, the bulls get injured in the head, eyes and legs. The bulls are also made to drink liquor and, therefore, they become aggressive and furious. Further, chilli powder is also thrown into their eyes, as a result of which the bulls run wildly, providing so called amusement to the spectators and in the process, the bulls are injured and there is also a possibility of the spectators getting injured. Therefore, this petition has been filed for a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to ban this kind of sport,

(3.) WHEN the writ petition came up for admission on 2. 9. 2008, we directed the learned government Pleader to take instructions in the matter. The learned Government Pleader, after taking instructions, has produced before us a letter dated 3. 9. 2008 sent by the tahsildar, Sankari to the District Collector, salem. From the contents of the said letter, it appears that a meeting was held among the villagers and the decision of the said meeting was reported by the Tahsildar to the District Collector. The decision seems to be that only one bull will be used in the event and only sandalwood paste will be applied on the forehead of the said bull and that bull will be worshipped and further that no bull race will be conducted, nor will any bull be subjected to cruelty.