Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 5: The Supreme Court (SC) has taken up an application moved by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), questioning the ordinance that allows Kambala sport to be held in Karnataka. With this, Kambala season of coastal Karnataka, which is set to begin soon, is facing another hiccup after the sport went through various hurdles and stoppages during the last couple of years before finally clearing them and ready to take off.

When the application moved by PETCA came up before the court on Saturday November 5, the SC adjourned it to Monday for hearing.

Dr Manilal Valliyate, who represented PETA in the court, submitted in his petition that the way the Kambala ordinance was issued was improper and that it violates law. The application moved by him on September 23 was admitted by the court on October 23. A three-judge bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice, Dr Dipak Misra, Justice A M Kanavilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, which took up the petition on Saturday posted the same to Monday.

PETA has named the state government represented by its chief secretary, central government's environment, forest and climate change ministry, and secretary of Indian Animal Welfare Board Chennai as defendants.

The Kambala ordinance was issued by the President on August 20. The ordinance will be in force till January 20, 2018. A bill on this issue needs to be approved in Karnataka assembly and the cabinet meeting has already approved this bill. The same is expected to be moved in the Belagavi session of the legislature. Expecting smooth sailing for these procedures, time table for the Kambala season ahead has already been announced. On November 11, celebratory Kambala is being held at Moodbidri. The future of Kambala now hinges on what turn the petition takes in SC.

Ashok Rai, who has been leading pro-Kambala forces in different courts, is preparing to carry on his legal fight against efforts being made to ban this rural sport in the SC. Founder secretary of Kambala Academy, Gunapal Kadamba, said that PETA had succeeded in bringing stay through Bombay high court in the past as proper rules over bullock carts race had not been framed in the past and that PETA is now fighting against Jallikattu, Kambala etc, claiming that the way in which ammendments to law were brought about by the states are not in order.