The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court asked the official respondents, including the district administration, to strictly follow the directions. He directed the police to maintain law and order. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday (January 2, 2026) directed the authorities of Sultan Hazrat Sikandar Badusha Dargah at Thirupparankundram Hill to hold only the Santhanakoodu Urus festival and limit the total number of participants to 50.
Justice S Srimatha banned the dargah authorities from sacrificing animals, carrying meat and non-vegetarian food and cooking non-vegetarian food. The direction should be enforced from the bottom to the top, the court said.
The official respondents, including the district office, have been asked to strictly follow the instructions. The police were ordered to maintain law and order.
The court was hearing a petition filed by M. Manickamoorthy of Madurai seeking a direction to prohibit the dargah authorities from performing ‘Kandhoori’ on the hill.
The state government said permission would be granted only for the Santhanakoodu festival scheduled for January 6. Permission was granted in 2023 and the same will follow this year. He also said that permission would not be granted to “Kandhoori Mahautsav”. According to him, animal sacrifice, carrying meat and non-vegetarian food and cooking non-vegetarian food would not be allowed.
The court sent the case to January 20 for the submission of a counter-affidavit.
Published – 02 Jan 2026 21:39 IST
