Chennai: A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Madras high court to prevent the Hindu Munnani from using animals such as elephants, horses and cows in the Sodasa Mahalakshmi Mahayagam on December 23, 24 and 26 at Payaniyar Thillai Nagar, Pongalore, Tiruppur district.
A division bench comprising Justices M.Sathyanarayanan and P.Rajamanickam before whom the PIL filed by S.Muthukumar ordered notice, returnable by Dec. 27 to the authorities and Hindu Munnani.
According to petitioner, the Hindu Munnani has proposed to conduct an event of 1,008 cows pooja, also kala pooja (elephants) and 108 horses pooja at Pongalore on Dec. 23, 24 and 26. As per the pamphlet issued by it, every participant should pay Rs 108 and obtain a token from it. The congregation of 1,000 or more animals will cause great hindrance to the people living in and around the area and also causing traffic problem, he added.
He said the Hindu Munnani was admitting the public by sale of tickets for exhibiting and for entertaining the animals which was banned under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The animals were transported to the exhibition place by vans and lorries, which is an offence under the Act. Moreover, the event is to be held for 3 days and on all days the animals would be detained unreasonably by chaining them, which is an offence under the Act, he pointed out.
