Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 11: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea by NGO PETA India challenging the holding of ‘Kambala’ at Karnataka’s Bangalore Palace Grounds, observing that the traditional sport can be showcased in different parts of the state.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta declined to entertain PETA’s petition, which had questioned the Karnataka High Court’s November 14 order permitting buffalo races outside the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

PETA’s counsel argued that the sport is traditionally confined to coastal areas and cannot be held in Bengaluru. “It has got nothing to do with tradition and culture. It's not the tradition and culture in Bengaluru,” the counsel submitted. They also contended that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, as amended by Karnataka, provides only a limited exemption for events “normally held as a part of tradition and culture,” making races in non-traditional cities like Bengaluru or Shivamogga prohibited.

The bench, however, observed, “If the culture is to be showcased in different parts of the state, what is wrong? Let people in other parts of the state be familiar with the culture. Why restrict it to a particular area only?” The court noted that while the sport may involve animals, safeguards under Section 3(2) of the PCA Act apply.

While dismissing the plea, the bench said questions would still be posed to PETA on a later date.

The plea also highlighted that the petitioner’s earlier review petition filed in 2023, seeking a complete ban on ‘Kambala’ and similar events, remains pending.