BENGALURU, 22 OCT

The Karnataka High Court, on 22 October, questioned whether conducting the Kambala event in Bengaluru would amount to cruelty to animals.

The court was hearing a plea by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) seeking to stay the bull race event scheduled for 26 October. PETA's plea also seeks to prevent the State government from permitting such events outside Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, where Kambala is rooted in tradition.

Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing PETA, argued before a division bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind that these races can be held in Udupi district and Dakshina Kannada regions as per the Supreme Court order. He said that can be held where it is the "tradition and culture of that place" and not in the City where it would be a commercial spectacle.

He highlighted that transporting bulls over 300 kilometres from these regions would subject them to cruelty. Chinnappa said, “We cannot object to the sport being held in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi as it is culture of that area. It cannot be allowed to be held in other areas of the State.”

The court deferred the matter to 23 October, with the State government to be represented by Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty. PETA's plea also seeks enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and adherence to Supreme Court guidelines on future Kambala events across Karnataka.

It further seeks to declare a government order dated 21 November, 2023, granting permission notification, as a non-speaking order, ultra vires of and in derogation of the provisions of the 1960 Act and Supreme Court decision. -Salar News with Agencies