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Madras High Court
Sivanantham vs The District Collector on 11 March, 2026
W.P.Crl(MD). No.1403 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
Dated : 11/03/2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI
W.P.Crl(MD). No.1403 of 2026
Sivanantham ... Petitioner
Vs
1.The District Collector,
Madurai,
Madurai District.
2.The State represented by
The Superintendent of Police,
Madurai,
Madurai District.
3.The State represented by
The Deputy Superintendent of Police,
Melur, Madurai District.
4.The State represented by
The Inspector of Police,
Keelavalavu Police Station,
Madurai District. ... Respondents
PRAYER :-
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to
issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records to the
impugned proceedings in O.MU.No.4302539/2026/C1 dated 05.03.2026
1/12
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W.P.Crl(MD). No.1403 of 2026
passed by the first respondent and quash the same as illegal and
consequently direct the respondents to grant permission and protection
for conducting the double bullock cart race to be held on 14.03.2026 at
Uranganpatti Village Road to Mathagupatti Road, Madurai District
between 6.00 a.m to 9.00 a.m in connection with the “Masi Festival” in
Shri Manthai Karuppanasamy Kovil, Situated at Uranganpatti Village,
Uranganpatti Post, Melur Taluk, Madurai District.
For Petitioner : Mr.B.Santhanam Rajesh Kumar
For Respondents : Mr.V.Satheesh
Government Advocate (Crl Side)
for R.1
Mr.S.S.Manoj
Government Advocate
for R.2 to R.4
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of
India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records
to the impugned proceedings in O.MU.No.4302539/2026/C1 dated
05.03.2026 passed by the first respondent and quash the same as illegal
and consequently direct the respondents to grant permission and
protection for conducting the double bullock cart race to be held on
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14.03.2026 at Uranganpatti Village Road to Mathagupatti Road, Madurai
District between 6.00 a.m to 9.00 a.m in connection with the “Masi
Festival” in Shri Manthai Karuppanasamy Kovil, Situated at
Uranganpatti Village, Uranganpatti Post, Melur Taluk, Madurai District.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner
is one of the member of the Administrative Committee of Shri Manthai
Karuppanasamy Kovil, Situated at Uranganpatti Village, Uranganpatti
Post where Maasi Kodai festival is ongoing. In this regard, the petitioner
had well before given a representation as early as on 21.02.2026 seeking
permission to conduct a bullock cart race in the Masi Kodai festival.
However, the impugned order dated 05.03.2026, came to be passed by
the first respondent, rejecting the petitioner's requisition. Challenging
the same the present writ petition is filed.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that already this
Court had permitted various temple committees to conduct Rekla Race in
Masi Kodai festival and he relied upon the order passed by this Court in
WP(MD)No.13355 of 2023 dated 08.06.2023, WP(MD)No.5360 of 2024
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dated 08.03.2024 and the judgment of the Hon'ble Division Bench of this
Court in WP(MD)No.21022 of 2024 dated 03.09.2024 and the order of
this Court made in WP(MD)No.2187 of 2025 dated 06.03.2025. He
further pointed out that the impugned proceeding is passed only on the
ground that the game of Rekla race is not included in the schedule of
Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, (Tamil Nadu Amendment Act 2017),
along with Jallikattu, Manjuviratu, Erudhu vidum vizha, and Vadamadu,
and sought for the indulgence of this Court.
4. The learned Government Advocate(Crl.side) submitted that
there is no infirmity in the order because the conduct of Rekla race would
amount to causing cruelty to the animals, more particularly in the in
Rekla race, the animals would be subjected to cruelty. He also drew the
attention of this Court to the circular of the office of the Commissioner of
Animal Husbandry And Veterinary Sciences in ROC No.1509 /
TNAWB/ 2020 where the events of Rekla race and Cock fight are
specifically excluded based on the mandates of the Prevention of Cruelty
of Animals, (Tamil Nadu Amendment Act 2017).
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5. Heard either sides and perused the materials available on record.
6. However, it is seen that for the past several years, this Rekla
Race is being conducted by the petitioners in the said temple namely Shri
Manthai Karuppanasamy Kovil at Uranganpatti Village, following the
mandates. Considering the fact that the petitioner is ready to abide by
any condition for the purpose of conducting the Rekla race, this Court,
following the directions passed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of this
Court, in WP(MD)No.21022 of 2024, in which I am also a part, the
impugned proceedings in O.MU.No.4302539/2026/C1 dated 05.03.2026
passed by the first respondent, is hereby quashed and the first respondent
is directed to permit the petitioner to conduct Rekla race subject to the
following conditions:
"2. The following conditions may be imposed in conducting
Bullock cart race at Seruppalakadu Village, Sethupavachatram
Peravurani Taluk, Thanjavur District.
i) Organizers should obtain no objection for conducting events
from the following departments. NOC to be obtained from the Animal
Welfare Board, Highways Authorities, Revenue departments, and Health
department.
ii) Bulls cart race should be conducted in the daytime only and the
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entire event should be completed maximum before 3 hrs time.
iii) The timing and number of Bulls cart should be decided by the
local administration based on local conditions.
iv) There should not be any betting, gambling, or any illegal
activities associated with this event.
v) They should not intoxicate the Bulls.
vi) Similarly, the Bullock cart riders should be strictly prohibited
from using alcohol.
vii) Every Bulls cart should be certified for its stability by an
appropriate authority.
viii) The race should not be conducted in National Highways or
State Highways and preferably village roads or any other mud track
prepared on empty field may be used.
ix) The Organizers should fix or decide the route in consultation
with the Police Department. (Schools and Hospitals to be avoided)
x) The entire event should be video~graphed.
xi) Torturing of Bulls won-t be allowed at any cost. No whipping
of the bull would be permitted and the cart man would only be permitted
to swirl it in the air and hit it on the ground, but in no manner
whatsoever would the cart man be permitted to whip the bull or induce
pain or cause any injury while conducting bullock cart races.
xii) There should not be any caste, communal and Political
coloring in the conduct of the event.
xiii) Fitness certificate for the participations should be obtained
from the health department.
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xiv) Only two persons should be allowed to ride the bullock cart.
xv) The maximum distance allowed to conduct the race should be
for 5 kilometers only, beyond which permission is should be denied.
xvi) All the participants should wear Head protection and safety
gear. Those who do not wear this should not be permitted to participate
in the race.
xvii) Not more than 10 bullock carts should go at the same time.
xviii) Political Party flags, religious flags, slogans and songs
should be avoided in the event.
xix) Representation to be given to all the concerned authorities 10
days prior to the function. Authorities can modify the route and time for
the convenience of the general public.
xx) At every event, where bullock cart races are to be held, a
separate track for each bullock cart will have to be provided.
xxi) A veterinary Doctor who is attached to the village Dispensary
shall first inspect all the bulls that participate in the bullock cart races
to ensure that they are in good physical condition and they are not
intoxicated and that there is no application of chilli powder or mud to
the
genitals of the bull to make it more aggressive or ferocious, so that it
runs
at a faster speed. In the event of any unfortunate injury that may occur to
a bull during the race, immediate adequate medical facility would be
provided by the Veterinary Doctor.
xxii) In the event of any bull is subjected to cruelty by any person
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or persons during the bullock cart races, penal action would be initiated
against him/them under the Prevention of Animal Cruelties Act, 1960.
xxiii) The Veterinary Doctor in association with NGOs espousing
the cause of animal welfare would video graph the bullock cart races
from vintage position so as to enable the authorities to find out that
there is an infraction of law or of the aforesaid guidelines during the
course of the races.
xxiv) Any organization seeking to conduct bullock cart races
would have to inform the district administration/District Collector and
the concerned police station in writing at least fifteen days prior to
holding of such race.
xxv) Owners of the bull cart as well as the event organizers shall
be solely responsible for any untoward incidents occurred during the
race."
9. Further, the Hon-ble Supreme Court while granting permission
in Transfer Petition (C) No.68 of 2013 imposed the following
conditions:~
"i) At every event, where bullock cart races are to be held, a
separate track for each bullock cart will have to be provided.
ii) No whipping of the bull would be permitted and the cartman
would only be permitted to swirl it in the air and hit it on the ground, but
in no manner whatsoever would the cartman be permitted to whip the
bull or induce pain or cause any injury while conducting bullock cart
races.
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iii) A veterinary Doctor who is attached to the village Dispensary
shall first inspect all the bulls that Participate in the bullock cart races
to ensure that they are in good physical condition and they are not
intoxicated and that there is no application of chilly powder or mud to
the
genitals of the bull to make it more aggressive or ferocious, so that it
runs
at a faster speed. In the event of any unfortunate injury that may occur to
a bull during the race, immediate adequate medical facility would be
provided by the Veterinary Doctor.
iv) In the event of any bull is subjected to cruelty by any person or
persons during the bullock cart races, penal action would be initiated
against him/then under the Prevention of Animal Cruelties Act, 1960.
v) The Veterinary Doctor in association with NGOs espousing the
cause of animal welfare would video graph the bullock cart races from
vintage position so as to enable the authorities to find out that there is
an
infraction of law of the aforesaid guidelines during the course of the
races.
vi) If the Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws In
Maharashtra constituted by the High Court desires to video graph the
bullock cart races, then they would be entitled to do so and necessary
safeguards and assistance would be provided to them by the
Government.
vii) Any organization seeking to conduct bullock cart races would
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have to inform the District administration/District Collector and the
concerned police station in writing at least ten days prior to holding of
such race, which in turn would immediately intimate the same to the said
Committee."
7. The fourth respondent is directed to verify whether the route
sought for by the petitioner is feasible for the conduct of the Rekla race
on 14.03.2026 and if found feasible permit the petitioner and if not found
feasible, the respondents are directed to provide alternative route for the
conduct of the same.
8. Accordingly, this Writ petition stands allowed. No costs.
11.03.2026
NCC : Yes/No
Index : Yes / No
pnn
Note: Issue order copy on 11.03.2026.
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To
1.The District Collector, Madurai, Madurai District.
2.The Superintendent of Police, Madurai, Madurai District.
3.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Melur, Madurai District.
4.The Inspector of Police, Keelavalavu Police Station,
Madurai District.
5.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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L. VICTORIA GOWRI,J
pnn
ORDER
IN
Date : 11/03/2026
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