From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 19: Karnataka High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India seeking an end to the famous Buffalo Race or Kambala, popular in the coastal parts of Karnataka.

After hearing the matter, the High Court issued notices seeking responses of the State Government and other respondents, including the Animal Welfare Board of India and District Committees of Kambala in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.

Senior advocate for the petitioner, Anand Grover, argued that the State Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department on December 17 issued an order permitting Kambala events despite a 2014 Supreme Court judgement, which held that such events are inherently cruel, violate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960, and hence cannot be allowed.

"Buffalo bulls are forced to run in Kambala events through the infliction of fear and pain. India's Supreme Court has already confirmed that such events are inherently cruel," says PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr ManilalValliyate.

"PETA will continue the fight to protect the bulls from abuse and we are hopeful that justice to these animals will be served, as events involving cruelty to animals have no place in civilised society,’’ he said.

In 2014, the Supreme Court had acknowledged bulls are not anatomically suited for races and similar activities. Making them participate subjects them to unnecessary pain and suffering, so such events were prohibited.

The apex court had also stated that when culture and tradition are at variance with the law enacted by Parliament, the law would take precedence.

As many as 65 non-cognisable offence complaints and one FIR were filed at just three events inspected by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) during 2014-15 Kambala events.

The AWBI inspection reports contain a scientific assessment of the welfare of buffaloes when they are forced to participate in Kambala events.

The reports further points out different forms of cruelty inflicted on the animals with photographic evidences, such as being subjected to verbal and physical force including shouting, hitting with hands, slapping on face, violent pulling of thick nose ropes (in some cases 2-3 nose ropes inserted through the same hole in the nasal septum), rough handling by pushing and pulling the animal, overpowering, tail pulling and restricting the movements of the head using a wooden pole tied to the horns of both the animals.

Many of the buffaloes that finished the race frothed at the mouth, salivated heavily and displayed increased respiration rates, establishing that buffaloes are anatomically unfit for running, PETA claimed.