Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 3: The state high court has allowed Kambalas to continue to be organized in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. It has however, asked the concerned to ensure that all the conditions stated in the government circular dated December 17 are strictly complied with.

A high court bench comprising chief justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath, which took up the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) seeking to ban Kambalas, issued the above order before adjourning the hearing. The high court upheld the interim application made by Kambala organizers for allowing Kambalas to be organized.

PETA had said in its petition that Supreme Court has held cruelty against animals to be illegal. It claimed that the department of animal husbandry and fishing had, in violation of laws, permitted on December 15, 2015, to continue to hold Kambalas. "In Kambalas, buffalos used for races are tortured. In 2014 and 2015, 65 cases of cruelty against animals were registered and as per the report of Animal Welfare Board of India, during Kambalas, buffalos are treated cruelly. Therefore, Kambalas should be banned," the petitioners had prayed.

The circular referred in the above order has prescribed that the buffaloes should not be hit during the Kambalas and none of their body parts should be poked or pierced. I also prescribed making it mandatory for organizers to provide proper shelter, food, and water to the animals. Tahsildars and police sub-inspectors of the area should be present at Kambalas to ensure that these conditions are complied with, the circular issued by the under secretary in the above department to the district deputy commissioners had stated.