Belagavi: In a move bound to win the government applause in North Karnataka and its coastal districts, the Assembly on Friday passed a Bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and allow the holding of the buffalo racing sport, Kambala, popular in these parts.
Piloting the Bill, Animal Husbandry Minister, A. Manju said Kambala was a folk sport and involved no cruelty. Besides it was the "popular will" that it should be allowed, he added.
This is the government's second attempt at passing such a legislation. In Feburary this year the Assembly had passed a Bill to exempt Kambala and bullock-cart racing from the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 in response to widespread protests in its coastal districts at the Supreme Court's ban on such sports. But at the time the President had returned the Bill suggesting it be tweaked in accordance with provisions of Article 213 of the Constitution. The government did this before tabling the Bill afresh on Friday.
A committee headed by Law Minister, T. B. Jayachandra too had recommended that Kambala and bullock cart racing should be allowed as no betting or cruelty to animals was involved. It also held that such sports played a vital role in ensuring survival of native breeds of cattle.
The High Court had last November stayed Kambala on a petition by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which had challenged it in view of the orders of the Supreme Court on Jallikattu, a sport involving taming of bulls in Tamil Nadu. Since then the Jallikattu lobby has had its way in TN encouraging the Karnataka government to pass a legislation to allow Kambala.
