TN: Hold 'Erudhaatam' fest but with a condition

Chennai, Sep 5: The Madras High Court has permitted conduct of the 'Erudhaattam' festival at a temple in Salem district this month on the condition that bull or any other animal being worshipped should not be subjected to cruelty in violation of Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Disposing of a writ petition, the first Bench of Chief Justice A K Ganguly and Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla, directed the district Collector to take steps to ensure compliance with the court order, and if needed, by posting police pickets.

Petitioner K Madhavan of Koodalur in Salem district had sought a direction to the authorities to prevent the holding of 'Erudhaattam' at the Muthu Muniappan temple in the village, alleging that bulls would be tortured during the event.

Keeping in mind the decisions of the Madras, Bombay and Kerala High Courts and the Supreme Court, the Bench directed the authorities that except the worship of bull by applying sandalwood paste on its forehead, no other act of cruelty be allowed.

Worshipping a bull did not mean subjecting it to cruelty, the judges said.

UNI