Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 26: The state government has published Kambala ordinance in its gazette. Kambala ordinance had obtained permission from the centre sometime back. With this, all legal hurdles in the way of organizing Kambalas have been done away with, and at least for the six months there is no bar for organizing Kambala in coastal districts of the state.

The ordinance issued to provide for Kambala after Kambala organizers and fans insisted on it, had been sent to the central government after the governor felt it needs assent of the President. The union government had given its assent after the notification went through various departments, during the first week of this month. The governor gave his stamp of approval to it on July 18 and the same was published in the state gazette on July 20. This ordinance will have a life of six months.

In the meanwhile, the ammendment bill brought to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been referred back to the state government because of some legal hurdles. The state government has to get nod for the modified bill again from both the houses here after addressing certain issues, after which the President has to give his approval for the same before it can become law. If these processes are completed within the next six months, Kambala can go on without any break. It is gathered that the department of law in the central government had raised an objection to a word used about cruelty to animals.

In the past, when the bill came back with objections, the same was discussed in the cabinet meeting and approved before being sent to central government. But the union government said that the bill which had been put through both the houses once should again be approved by these houses if there is an ammendment for the same. Therefore, the modified bill has to be placed before the legislative assembly and council. An officer of the government said that the modified bill is likely to be placed before the two houses at the session planned during Novemebr.

Kambala Academy convener, K Gunapal Kadamba, said that currently there is no legal hurdle for organizing Kambala for next six months. Kambala season begins in November. He has requested the state to take steps necessary to see that the bill becomes law before the term of the ordinance expires.