New Delhi, Nov 18 (DHNS): The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and Karnataka governments how an ordinance allowing Kambala could be issued when the President had returned a Bill on the traditional buffalo sport.

The apex court called the situation "disturbing" and "piquant" with "far-reaching implications" even as the Attorney General KK Venugopal –appearing for the Centre- defended organizing Kambala with strict caveats and ensuring no cruelty to animals.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra questioned Venugopal and Karnataka's Additional Advocate General Devdutt Kamat on the need to issue 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance 2017', which the President had given his assent on July 3.

Hearing a public interest litigation by PETA India challenging the validity of the ordinance, the bench pointed out that a Bill passed on the subject by the Karnataka state legislature and sent for the Presidential assent had been returned.