Avaniyapuram to get jallikattu committee

Avaniyapuram has been witnessing jallikattu as an annual event in line with the Pongal festival. Similarly, this year also, the state government had already notified this event in its gazette scheduled on January 15. After the notification, the Avaniyapuram Jallikattu Vizha Kuzhu moved the High Court seeking adequate police protection and other necessary security arrangements for organising the event.

Meanwhile, some locals submitted petitions to intervene in the case, seeking protection and raised objections to the Vizha Kuzhu against letting one particular person, who is the president for ten years, to organise jallikattu. Moreover, the interveners alleged that the president committed irregularities in handling of financial accounts of the committee and took decisions at his own discretion without consulting others.

They also stated that if such unhealthy practices continued, it would weaken the unity among the people and possibility of organising the jallikattu irrespective of castes in Avaniyapuram would be remote. Hence, the bench should order the committee to include members of all castes and organise jallikattu with unity, the interveners prayed.

When the petitions came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices KK Sasidharan and PD Audikesavalu, the bench summoned Madurai district Collector, Superintendent of Police and Commissioner of Police, Madurai City. Later, the officials, who made themselves present before the bench at 1 pm, were informed that they could make suggestions regarding the issue and the bench would have a final say on the committee. The bench reserved the orders citing that, “If consensus among these different groups was not reached, the jallikattu could even be abandoned at Avaniyapuram this year.”