BENGALURU: The Karnataka Government has passed an amendment bill in the state Assembly to legalise the traditional buffalo race - Kambala. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill, 2017, was introduced in the Assembly on February 10. This development came a month after Tamil Nadu passed a bill to allow Jallikattu. The clamour for Kambala was spurred by the success of the stir in Tamil Nadu for allowing Jallikattu, which led to the state government bringing a similar amendment to the Central act.
Protests were held at several places by Kambala Committees and various Kannada organisations, against the ban. Given the significant role played by the traditional sports event, in preserving and promoting traditions and culture among the people in the state and their vital role in ensuring survival and continuance of native breeds of cattle, the government had decided to exempt their conduct, the bill said. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, was enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary cruelty and suffering on animals. It recognises the need to exempt the application of its provisions in certain circumstances. Meanwhile, the amendment bill states that there was no extra expenditure involved in the proposed legislative measure.
Amid growing protests for lifting the court stay on Kambala, the Karnataka Cabinet on January 28 had decided to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to pave the way for the traditional sport. A Karnataka High Court Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice S K Mukherjee, had in November last year, stayed holding of Kambala on a petition by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, challenging it in view of orders passed by the Supreme Court on Jallikattu. PETA noted that the buffaloes are whipped to race faster in slush paddy fields for their owners to win cash prizes from Rs 10,000 to Rs 500,000.
