Karnataka state allowed to conduct Kambala bull race, President promulgates Ordinance.

Karnataka’s Dakshin Kannada and Udupi Districts Kambala race or bull race was provisionally banned in 2016 by Karnataka High Court after it was approached by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Chief Justice S.K. Mukherjee of the divisional bench had observed in its verdict, ”The animal rights are protected under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. All animals are not anatomically designed to be performing animals. Unavoidable activities causing pain and suffering to animals must be avoided. Buffaloes could be utilized for farming, and we don’t see any justifiable exemption in conducting Kambala, as these animals are not meant for racing.”
On 13 February, a bill was passed by the Karnataka Assembly and was sent to the President for his assent, the bill was to exempt bullock cart racing and Kambala from the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
On Monday the President promulgated the Ordinance allowing the state to conduct Kambala.
As per an order issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, ”In pursuance of the proviso to clause (1) of article 213 of the Constitution of India, the President of India hereby approves the promulgation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 by the Governor of Karnataka.”

Published by: Shivani Singh, Legal Reporter, Section for Law, INBA