Date:05/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090559750500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Court allows ‘Erudhaatam’ festival

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has permitted the ‘Erudhaattam’ festival scheduled for September in a temple in Salem district on the condition that the 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.

In its order disposing of a writ petition, the First Bench of Chief Justice A.K.Ganguly and Justice F.M.Ibrahim Kalifulla directed the Collector to take steps to ensure compliance with the order by, if need be, posting police pickets.

Torture alleged

K. Madhavan of Koodalur in Salem district had sought a direction to the authorities to prevent the “Erudhaattam” to be held at the Muthu Muniappan temple in the village, alleging that bulls were tortured during the event.

Keeping in mind the decisions of the Madras, Bombay and Kerala High Courts and the Supreme Court, the Bench directed 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, it said.