Ravikumar vs The District Collector,

Court
Madras High Court

WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 02-11-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K. GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011560712026}
Ravikumar
S/o, Ramakrishnan,
79/26, Ramaiahgowdar Street,
Uthamapalayam,
Cumbum,
Theni District
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The District Collector,
O/o, District Collector,
Theni Collector,
Theni District,
Theni
2. The Superintendent of Police
Theni District,
Uthamapalaym Division,
Theni
3. The Deputy Superintendent of Police
Theni District,
Theni
4. The Inspector of Police,
Cumbum North Police Station,
Cumbum,
Theni District.
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India to issue a Writ of Certioarified Mandamus to call for the records of
the 4th respondent in Na.Ka.No.23/Kaa.Aa.Ka/Cumbum North
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
Kaa.Ni/2025 dated 24.10.2026 and quash the same as illegal and
consequently direct the respondents to grant permission and protection to
conduct double bullock cart race to be held on 04.11.2026 at Cumbam
Mettu Road from 07.00 a.m in connection with the Arulmigu Bagavathi
Amman Thiruvila situated in Cumbam, Theni District.
For Petitioner(s) :M/s.A.Navaskhan
For Respondent(s) :Mr.M.S.Parthiban
Govt. Advocate For R1
Mr.D.Rajaboopathy
Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side)
For R2 To R4
ORDER
This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of
India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records
of the 4th respondent in Na.Ka.No.23/Kaa.Aa.Ka/Cumbum North
Kaa.Ni/2025 dated 24.10.2026 and quash the same as illegal and
consequently direct the respondents to grant permission and protection to
conduct double bullock cart race to be held on 04.11.2026 at Cumbam
Mettu Road from 07.00 a.m in connection with the Arulmigu Bagavathi
Amman Thiruvila situated in Cumbam, Theni District.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the
petitioner sent a representation on 22.10.2026 seeking permission to
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
conduct double bullock cart race in connection with “Arulmigu
Bagavathi Amman Thiruvila situated in Cumbam, Theni District”.
However, vide impugned order dated 24.10.2026, the fourth respondent,
rejected the petitioner’s request. Challenging the same the present writ
petition is filed.
3.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that already this
Court had permitted various temple committees to conduct Rekla Race in
connection with temple festival and he relied upon the order passed by
this Court in WP(MD)No.13355 of 2023 dated 08.06.2023,
WP(MD)No.5360 of 2024 dated 08.03.2024 and the judgment of the
Hon’ble Division Bench of this Court in WP(MD)No.21022 of 2024
dated 03.09.2024 and the order of this Court made in WP(MD)No.2187
of 2025 dated 06.03.2025. Hence, he sought for the indulgence of this
Court.
4. The learned Government Advocate(Crl.side) submitted that there
is a possibility of inconvenience to the general public and disruption to
traffic.
5. Heard either sides and perused the materials available on record.
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
6.Considering the fact that the petitioner is ready to abide by any
condition for the purpose of conducting the Rekla race, this Court,
following the directions passed by the Hon’ble Division Bench of this
Court, in WP(MD)No.21022 of 2024, the impugned proceedings in
Na.Ka.No. 23/Kaa.Aa.Ka/Cumbum North Kaa. Ni/2026 dated
24.10.2026 passed by the fourth respondent, is hereby quashed and the
respondents are directed to permit the petitioner to conduct Rekla race
subject to the following conditions:
“i) Organizers should obtain no objection for conducting events from the
following departments. NOC to be obtained from the Animal Welfare Board,
Highways Authorities, Revenue departments, and Health department.
ii) Bulls cart race should be conducted in the daytime only and the entire
event should be completed maximum before 3 hrs time.
iii) The timing and number of Bulls cart should be decided by the local
administration based on local conditions.
iv) There should not be any betting, gambling, or any illegal activities
associated with this event.
v) They should not intoxicate the Bulls.
vi) Similarly, the Bullock cart riders should be strictly prohibited from
using alcohol.
vii) Every Bulls cart should be certified for its stability by an appropriate
authority.
viii) The race should not be conducted in National Highways or State
Highways and preferably village roads or any other mud track prepared on
empty field may be used.
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
ix) The Organizers should fix or decide the route in consultation with
the Police Department. (Schools and Hospitals to be avoided)
x) The entire event should be video-graphed.
xi) Torturing of Bulls won~t be allowed at any cost. No whipping of the
bull would be permitted and the cart man would only be permitted to swirl it in
the air and hit it on the ground, but in no manner whatsoever would the cart
man be permitted to whip the bull or induce pain or cause any injury while
conducting bullock cart races.
xii) There should not be any caste, communal and Political coloring in
the conduct of the event.
xiii) Fitness certificate for the participations should be obtained from the
health department.
xiv) Only two persons should be allowed to ride the bullock cart.
xv) The maximum distance allowed to conduct the race should be for 5
kilometers only, beyond which permission is should be denied.
xvi) All the participants should wear Head protection and safety gear.
Those who do not wear this should not be permitted to participate in the race.
xvii) Not more than 10 bullock carts should go at the same time.
xviii) Political Party flags, religious flags, slogans and songs should be
avoided in the event.
xix) Representation to be given to all the concerned authorities 10 days
prior to the function. Authorities can modify the route and time for the
convenience of the general public.
xx) At every event, where bullock cart races are to be held, a separate
track for each bullock cart will have to be provided.
xxi) A veterinary Doctor who is attached to the village Dispensary shall
first inspect all the bulls that participate in the bullock cart races to ensure that
they are in good physical condition and they are not intoxicated and that there
is no application of chilli powder or mud to the genitals of the bull to make it
more aggressive or ferocious, so that it runs at a faster speed. In the event of
any unfortunate injury that may occur to a bull during the race, immediate
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
adequate medical facility would be provided by the Veterinary Doctor.
xxii) In the event of any bull is subjected to cruelty by any person or
persons during the bullock cart races, penal action would be initiated against
him/them under the Prevention of Animal Cruelties Act, 1960.
xxiii) The Veterinary Doctor in association with NGOs espousing the
cause of animal welfare would video graph the bullock cart races from vintage
position so as to enable the authorities to find out that there is an infraction of
law or of the aforesaid guidelines during the course of the races.
xxiv) Any organization seeking to conduct bullock cart races would
have to inform the district administration/District Collector and the concerned
police station in writing at least fifteen days prior to holding of such race.
xxv) Owners of the bull cart as well as the event organizers shall be
solely responsible for any untoward incidents occurred during the race.“
9.Further, the Hon~ble Supreme Court while granting permission
in Transfer Petition (C) No.68 of 2013 imposed the following conditions:-
“i) At every event, where bullock cart races are to be held, a separate
track for each bullock cart will have to be provided.
ii) No whipping of the bull would be permitted and the cartman would
only be permitted to swirl it in the air and hit it on the ground, but in no manner
whatsoever would the cartman be permitted to whip the bull or induce pain or
cause any injury while conducting bullock cart races.
iii) A veterinary Doctor who is attached to the village Dispensary shall
first inspect all the bulls that Participate in the bullock cart races to ensure that
they are in good physical condition and they are not intoxicated and that there
is no application of chilly powder or mud to the genitals of the bull to make it
more aggressive or ferocious, so that it runs at a faster speed. In the event of
any unfortunate injury that may occur to a bull during the race, immediate
adequate medical facility would be provided by the Veterinary Doctor.
iv) In the event of any bull is subjected to cruelty by any person or
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
persons during the bullock cart races, penal action would be initiated against
him/then under the Prevention of Animal Cruelties Act, 1960.
v) The Veterinary Doctor in association with NGOs espousing the cause
of animal welfare would video graph the bullock cart races from vintage
position so as to enable the authorities to find out that there is an infraction of
law of the aforesaid guidelines during the course of the races.
vi) If the Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws In Maharashtra
constituted by the High Court desires to video graph the bullock cart races,
then they would be entitled to do so and necessary safeguards and assistance
would be provided to them by the Government.
vii) Any organization seeking to conduct bullock cart races would have
to inform the District administration/District Collector and the concerned
police station in writing at least ten days prior to holding of such race, which in
turn would immediately intimate the same to the said Committee.“
7. The fourth respondent is directed to verify whether the route
sought for by the petitioner is feasible for the conduct of the Rekla race
on 04.11.2026 and if found feasible permit the petitioner and if not found
feasible, the respondents are directed to provide alternative route for the
conduct of the same.
8. Accordingly, this Writ petition stands allowed. No costs.
02-11-2026
Index: Yes/No
Speaking/Non-speaking order
Neutral Citation: Yes/No
skn
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
To
1. The District Collector
O/o, District Collector
Theni Collector
Theni District
Theni
2. The Superintendent of Police
Theni District
Uthamapalaym Division
Theni
3. The Deputy Superintendent of Police
Theni District
Theni
4. The Inspector of Police
Cumbum North Police Station
Cumbum
Theni District
5. The Additional Public Prosecutor
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
Madurai
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WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI, J.
skn
WP Crl.(MD) No. 5940 of 2026
02-11-2026
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