Madurai Bench rejects plea on 'manju virattu'

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today rejected a plea to allow 'manju virattu' (a type of bull fighting) at Devakottai in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu.

The Bench said the Supreme Court had allowed 'jallikattu' (taming the bull) and related sports only during the Pongal festival season which is in January.

A Division Bench of Justices K Mohan Ram and S Palanivelu said they could not stay the order passed by the local Sub-Collector denying permission for the event scheduled to be held this month.

The next hearing in the case would be held tomorrow. The judges said the apex court, acting on a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India on December 11, 2007, stayed a High Court judgment allowing the sporting event.

The orders were later modified at the insistence of the state government and the events were allowed subject to restrictions

Despite modifications, the stay continues to be in operation, Justice Mohan Ram said.

He disagreed with the contention of the petitioner's counsel that the Supreme Court order did not specifically state that the sport could be conducted only during the Pongal festival.

The apex court permitted the event because the Assistant Solicitor General had submitted that the events were part of the festival.