Court ban on Kambala race stays in Kartaka

Bengaluru, Jan 30 :The Kartaka High Court on Monday declined to vacate its November 18 interim stay on Kambala - buffaloes race in the state’s coastal areas — till the Supreme Court’s verdict on Jallikattu bull-taming sport in the neighbouring state of Tamil du.

“The ban on resuming Kambala will remain for another two weeks till the Supreme Court delivers verdict on Jallikattu law,” said a division bench headed by Chief Justice S.K. Mukherjee in the order, posting the case’s next hearing for February 13.

The centuries-old buffalo races are held in the wetlands of coastal districts of Dakshi Kanda and Uduipi, about 400km from Bengaluru, from November-March every year to celebrate a good harvest and as a recreatiol sport for farmers and rural folk.

Animal rights activists on January 25 challenged the amendment Bill to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, passed by the Tamil du legislative assembly on January 23 to nullify the apex court’s May 7, 2014 ban on Jallikattu.

The apex court also banned Kambala in coastal Kartaka along with Jallikattu on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action and the Animal Welfare Board of India. (ians)