Grant nod for MGR fete, cock fight: Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Tiruvallur police to grant permission and give police bandobust to a group of persons, who are the organisers of centenary celebrations of late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran and the birthday celebrations of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on January 17, 18 and 19,  2018, at Vilakkamampoodi Pudur village in Tiruvallur district by imposing certain conditions.

Justice R. Suresh Kumar gave the above directive, while passing orders on a petition from M. Munuswamy, which sought a direction to the police to grant permission and protection for conducting ‘cockfight’ at the village these three days.

According to petitioner, he along with a group of persons constituted a committee in their village, who conduct the birthday celebrations of the late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran for every year. In order to mark the said function, they organise ‘cockfight’, which is the traditional game during the temple festival. In the past police granted permission in 2014, 2015 and 2017. On the eve of the celebrations, they have organised the ‘cockfight’ this year also and sent representation to the police seeking permission. But there was no response, he added.

The judge said in view of the earlier orders passed by this court, pursuant to which, the function as well as ‘cockfight’ since had been smoothly run by the petitioner and his group, this court is of the view that there can be no impediment in granting similar direction to the police for this year also.

The judge made it clear that the event shall be supervised by the superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur district, as well as by the veterinary doctor of the nearby government veterinary hospital.

The judge further made it clear that during the course of conducting ‘cockfight’ there should not be any injury to be caused to the birds and the birds should not be intoxicated, the judge added.

The judge imposed certain other conditions which included any untoward incidents, no songs praising communal leader or having communal overtones should not be played no flex board or hoardings depicting particular community or leader is displayed.

The judge said these conditions shall be strictly followed by the petitioner and his group in all the three days and in the entire function and if any violation of these conditions was reported, the police are at liberty to take appropriate action against the petitioner and his group.