Coastal Karnataka's traditional sport , Kambala, may not be held in Bengaluru this year as the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday stopped the first race of this season. It was scheduled to be held on Sunday, October 26.
PETA's petition
The animal rights organisation filed a petition in the high court seeking a stay on any Kambala event in Bengaluru. It termed the event ‘cruel to animals’ and had called for the enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as well as the provisions of the state’s 2017 amendments to the Act
PETA had also requested the court to restrict Kambala to its traditional rural locations in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. In the petition, it argued that holding the event in Bengaluru is more of a commercial than its cultural significance.
The organisation also released investigative footage of cruelty at the Kambala. The footage shows bulls being hit, weapons used on them and buffaloes crashing and collapsing at the previous Kambala event held in Bengaluru and other southern cities.
Karnataka government's defence
The Karnataka government has asserted that the Kamabala represents the cultural heritage of the entire state, not just a particular region.
However, the High Court of Karnataka Bench ordered the state to intimate PETA India in advance if requests for permits are received for any other Kambala event in the city. This is so that the organisation's objections could be heard by the court before any such permission is granted.
The court has adjourned the hearing to November 5, where the court will hear and consider arguments and the petitioners’ objections would be considered at the time.
PETA's petition
The animal rights organisation filed a petition in the high court seeking a stay on any Kambala event in Bengaluru. It termed the event ‘cruel to animals’ and had called for the enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as well as the provisions of the state’s 2017 amendments to the Act
PETA had also requested the court to restrict Kambala to its traditional rural locations in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. In the petition, it argued that holding the event in Bengaluru is more of a commercial than its cultural significance.
The organisation also released investigative footage of cruelty at the Kambala. The footage shows bulls being hit, weapons used on them and buffaloes crashing and collapsing at the previous Kambala event held in Bengaluru and other southern cities.
Karnataka government's defence
The Karnataka government has asserted that the Kamabala represents the cultural heritage of the entire state, not just a particular region.
However, the High Court of Karnataka Bench ordered the state to intimate PETA India in advance if requests for permits are received for any other Kambala event in the city. This is so that the organisation's objections could be heard by the court before any such permission is granted.
The court has adjourned the hearing to November 5, where the court will hear and consider arguments and the petitioners’ objections would be considered at the time.
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