Madras High Court allows Rekla Race; says cannot give a message that Indians are not allowed to celebrate their Independence Day

The Madras High Court recently allowed Rekla Race to be held on Sunday as part of the cultural celebrations for the 75th Independence Day [V Sounthar vs The District Collector].A bench of Justices T Raja and K Kumaresh Babu said that it does not want to give a message to Indians that they aren't allowed to celebrate even their Independence Day. "When the petitioner came forward to conduct the Rekla race as part of the 75th Year of Independence Day, we are afraid that refusing their prayer would send a message that Indians are refused to celebrate even the Independence Day. Therefore, any cultural programme organised has to be viewed on par with competition being organized by schools and colleges and other organisations," the judges held.The Court noted that Rekla race is a cultural event, which has been celebrated for many years just like Jallikattu."Independence Day is being celebrated by all of us on every August 15, to celebrate the freedom from the foreign yoke. That celebration would be marked by dancing, singing and distributing sweets and holding different cultural entertainments. Rekla Race is one of the cultural programmes which has been in vogue from time immemorial in India like Jallikattu. Similarly, the youngsters and youth in both village and urban sides are also organising different cultural programmes and various games like kabadi, cricket, silambam, cycle race and motor race to mark India's Independence and also to remember the supreme sacrifices made by the people to get free from the foreign ruling," the bench noted.The bench further refused to accept the contention of the State government that bulls are intoxicated. This is a frivolous assumption, the Court said. .The bench was seized of a plea seeking permission to hold the Rekla race in Erode district. The State had claimed that permitting the race might lead to a law and order situation. It also claimed that the same would cause huge traffic jams, which would be inconvenient to the general public..However, the bench noted that August 14 falls on a Sunday, which would mean that all colleges and schools would be closed."...there is no possibility of any traffic jam. Secondly, it also appears that the Festival Committee has also made some arrangements to conduct the race like holding emergency health check ups both to the men and animals, participating in the race. The Court also noted the undertaking by the petitioner that the race would be held without indulging in any unlawful activities like gambling and betting."Therefore, when the Nation is also gearing towards the celebration of Our 75th Year of Independence in a grand manner, the objections raised by the Special Government Pleader that they have already granted permission to another party to hold a similar race on July 31, cannot be a reasonable objection," the Court said.With these observations, the bench allowed the race..Advocate EC Ramesh appeared for the petitioner.Special Government Pleader KV Sajeev Kumar represented the State..[Read Order]