Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 6: The state high court (HC), on WednesdayJuly 5, dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking ban on Kambala. The decision of the high court follows passage of ammendment bill put up by Karnataka government providing for holding folk sport events like Kambala, bullock cart race, buffalo race etc upon getting Presidential nod.

The petition came up for hearing before a division bench of the HC comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice P S Dineshkumar on Wednesday. The PIL was filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals. The bench told the petitioners that the litigation has automatically become redundant on account of approval given to the ammendment bill by the President. In response, advocate for petitioners offered to withdraw the litigation.

Advocate Rajashekhar, who appeared on behalf of defendant, Dakshina Kannada Kambala Samiti, who was present during the hearing, informed the bench that the President had signed the ammended bill and therefore it has become law. A copy of the same was furnished to high court on this occasion.