Mangaluru: Following a petition filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the state government of Karnataka and ordered that the issue regarding the conduction of folk game Kambala should be heard by a constitutional bench. However, the scheduled Kambalas in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod district will be held uninterruptedly.
As PETA has urged to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Second Amendment) Act, 2017, which allows Kambala (buffalo racing) events and other bull and bullock cart races in the state, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to the state government of Karnataka on Friday, December 7 and ordered that the petition should be heard by a constitutional bench like those of Jallikattu and bullock cart races.
In the new petition, PETA India points out that the new amended state law is contrary to the object and purpose of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, the Parliament enacted legislation mandating that the animals be protected from unnecessary pain and suffering. Furthermore, it violates the right to life of animals protected under Article 21 read with Article 51A (g) of the Constitution of India, which grants animals the fundamental right to be treated with compassion and dignity.
Though PETA demanded a stop on the ongoing Kambala events in the coastal district, the Supreme Court reportedly denied entertaining its plea but ordered that it should be heard by a constitutional bench. Kambala Comittee President P R Shetty, when contacted, told Newskarnataka that there are no changes in the scheduled calender of Kambala events and that it would be held uninterruptedly.
As per the calendar, a total of 18 Kambalas will be organised in the next five months. The first Kambala of this year was organised at Kakyapadavu in Bantwal Taluk on November 24 and the last Kambala will be organised at Talapady, Panjala in Mangaluru Taluk on March 23, 2019.
