Karnataka HC Refuses to Lift Kambala Ban, To Wait for Jallikattu Verdict

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, January 30, 2017: The interim ban on annual buffalo race Kambala in Karnataka will remain for at least another two weeks as the High Court today decided to await the Supreme Court verdict on Jallikattu pending before it. “This honourable court will wait for the Supreme Court order on Jallikattu (bull taming sport) and accordingly decide on Kambala,” Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee heading a division bench said in his order.

The court had stayed the buffalo racing sport in November 2016 citing cruelty to animals on a petition by animal activists.

The Karnataka government on January 28 resolved to move amendment in the forthcoming legislature session from February 6th. This came after neighbouring Tamil Nadu amended laws to facilitate Jallikattu last week.

“We requested the court to allow Kambala with the provision that the expert committee set up in December to ensure there is no cruelty can oversee this. But the court noted that the case is coming up in Supreme Court, so let’s wait. It is adjourned by two weeks, but if the SC gives any order on Tuesday, we can move the high court once again by Wednesday,” said S Rajashekar, counsel for the Kambala Committee.

The state government has been arguing that there are vast differences between Jallikattu and Kambala – primarily that buffaloes are not among the animals notified as banned for sporting events by the Central government (as against bulls, which are banned). Besides, Kambala has not seen as much harm as Jallikattu which has recorded even deaths almost every year it has been held.