Bengaluru: Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Budihal RB of the High Court on Tuesday passed an interim order banning all Kambala races in Karnataka until the disposal of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
The High Court took note of the submissions made by Madhusudhan Naik, the Advocate General, who informed the court that the state government had already withdrawn its order allowing Kambala events under certain regulations– which PETA had challenged through its PIL– in view of orders given by the Supreme Court in the Jallikattu and Bull Race Case in January 2016.
A final hearing will take place after the Supreme Court disposes off the batch of petitions filed by PETA and other animal-protection groups challenging the 7 January 2016 notification of the Central Government permitting events such as Jallikattu and bull races despite a Supreme Court judgment of May 2014 that had categorically held that such events cannot be allowed. The Supreme Court of India stayed the notification permitting exceptions on 12 January 2016, stating that such events are not allowed. This matter is now scheduled for a hearing on December 2.
“There is absolutely no room in today’s civilised society for races that involve forcing already overworked bulls to run out of fear and the threat of physical abuse”, says PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr Manilal Valliyate. “We are celebrating this interim relief given by the court and are relieved that bulls will now be spared the suffering.”
