Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Sep 16: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has once again started its fight for the cancellation of Kambala, the popular traditional sport of Tulunadu, by filing an appeal urging the supreme court to cancel the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Karnataka 2017 (second amendment), which has allowed the Kambala to function as usual.
PETA had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC) against the enactment. PETA had asked the permission of the court in March 2018, to withdraw the appeal filed by it against the enactment of the Karnataka government, which gave the permission to hold the Kambala sport and to file a new appeal questioning the constitutional validity of the new act and to direct the state government to cancel the same.
PETA, in its appeal to the SC, has quoted that the new act of the Karnataka government is against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, which protects the animals from inflicting violence and giving trouble. According to PETA, the new act is a violation of the constitutional chapter 51 A (G). It might be recalled that President Ramanath Kovind had signed the revised bill on Prevention of Cruelty against animals (Karnataka amendment) in February 10 and the same is implemented as law.
Kambala season to start in November
In the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, the Kambala season starts from the month of November and ends in the month of March. This year Kambala is expected to begin in the second week of November. The meeting of the district Kambala committee is going to be held in the month of November and the dates of Kambala will be fixed in that meeting.
This year Pilikula and Manjeshwara - Bayaru Kambalas will be added to the list. In total 21 Kambalas are expected to be organized this year. In addition, including the traditional and religious Kambalas more than 100 Kambalas take place in the twin district of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Reacting to the appeal filed by PETA in the SC, P R Shetty, president of district Kambala committee said, "There is no official information with regards to the filing of an appeal by PETA against Kambala in the supreme court. Prevention of Cruelty against the Animals act of Karnataka - 2017 (second amendment) is implemented in February and there are no issues in organizing the Kambala sport this year. In the month of November, the meeting of the district Kambala committee will take place and dates will be decided."