Updated
New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS): The buffalo racing sport, Kambala, will continue in Karnataka for now, as the Supreme Court on Monday refused to stop it saying it will hear the matter in March.
Kambala starts from December and continues till March. It coincides with the Pongal festivities.
As senior counsel Siddharth Luthra urged the court that it should step in and stop the race, which is now scheduled for February 18, Chief Justice Dipak Misra said "races will take place next year also".
Urging the court to stop Kambala, Luthra appearing for the NGO People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told the bench that an ordinance backing Kambala has lapsed and there was no statutory regime supporting the animal sport.
Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand also informed the bench comprising Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y.Chandrachud, that the Karnataka Law bestowing sanctity to Kambala was pending before the President for his assent.
The court then directed the final hearing on PETA's plea to March 12.
Earlier Report
Mangaluru: SC hearing on appeal against Kambala on Monday kicks up interest
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 12: The appeal filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against permission granted to holding of Kambala, a folk sport, in Karnataka, will be coming up in the Supreme Court (SC) for hearing on Monday, February 12.
The validity period of the ordinance that had permitted Karnataka government to hold Kambalas has already expired and the new Kambala bill has not yet become law. PETA therefore has reasoned that Kambala should not be allowed to be organized. Because of points raised by PETA, the hearing slated for today has kicked up lot of interest.
The SC had begun to hear the earlier petition filed by PETA, claiming that the way the ordinance was issued to allow Kambalas was improper and that it was against law, from November 6 last year. In this case, hearings took place on November 13, November 17 , November 24 and December 12. Although PETA pleaded with the SC to stay Kambala during the hearing on November 24, the SC had declined to uphold its request. On December 12, the court had adjourned the case by six weeks.
PETA had approached SC with a request to take up hearing in the petition quickly as the validity period of the ordinance had expired. Upholding this petition, the SC has fixed the hearing to today.
Undivided Dakshina Kannada district Kambala Samiti president, Barkur Shantaram Shetty, noted that Kambalas are being organized successfully in the district, and that only five more Kambalas are left to be performed during this season. He noted that the bill approving holding of Kambala is awaiting the process of Presidential nod, and that the same is expected to be completed soon. He recollected that the PETA's earlier pleas to stay Kambalas had not been upheld by the SC and therefore, the Samiti hopes that this time too, Kambalas will not face any bottlenecks.
Ashok Rai, president of Uppinangady Vijaya Vikrama Kambala Samiti, which is also a party to the suit, said that when the petition comes up before the SC on Monday, a plea to adjourn hearing in the case by four weeks will be filed, duly pointing out to the court that the bill passed by Karnataka legislature approving holding of Kambala is awaiting assent from the President.