Karnataka High Court Halts Kambala Race Due to Animal Abuse Concerns

HC’s decision comes after petition highlighting potential for animal abuse inherent in Kambala races; next hearing on legality of Kambala events is set for November 5

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday halted the first Kambala race of this season, which was slated to be held in Bengaluru on Saturday (October 26). A division bench headed by Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind has further instructed the State to intimate People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), India, in advance if requests for permits are received for any other Kambala event in the city and adjourned the hearing to November 5.

Notably, PETA had filed a petition to HC seeking a stay on any Kambala in Bengaluru, terming the event ‘cruel to animals’ and had called for the enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as well as the provisions of the state’s 2017 amendments to the Act. The animal advocacy group had also requested the court restrict Kambala to its traditional rural locations in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. PETA’s plea for urgent consideration of the matter was prompted by media reports on Kambala events planned between October 26 and April 19 in various locations across Karnataka, including non-coastal areas such as Bengaluru and Shivamogga. PETA, in its petition, has argued that Kambala is primarily a tradition of Udupi and Dakshin Kannada districts, and holding the event in Bengaluru is more of a commercial than cultural perspective.

The legality of conducting a Kambala event in Bengaluru and other places where it is not traditionally held will be further considered by the Court on November 5. “Today’s proceedings have prevented buffalo bulls’ long and arduous transport, beatings, and other cruelty inherent in forcing buffaloes to race in Bengaluru for now. Karnataka’s reputation is one of modernity, innovation, and tech and not archaic animal abuse,” says Arunima Kedia, PETA’s legal counsel. “We urge citizens to refuse to patronise events where animals are bullied for entertainment,” Kedia added.

Kambala represents cultural heritage of entire state: Govt

However, the state government asserted before the HC on Wednesday that Kambala represents the cultural heritage of the entire state and thus should be allowed in Bengaluru. A state advocate compared the event to a horse race and cited that even horses are transported from other states for racing purposes.

Previously in Court

In 2014, the Supreme Court passed a detailed and well-reasoned judgement in Animal Welfare Board of India vs A Nagaraja & Ors that holding Kambala and other bull performances would violate the rights guaranteed to animals under the Constitution of India and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. However, after this judgement was passed, beginning in 2017, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra amended animal protection laws for their states to allow Jallikattu, Kambala, and bullock cart races, respectively. On May 18, 2023, a Constitution Bench of the SC also enabled these events to continue in these states.

Most recently, the SC agreed to consider an e-mail petition filed by PETA India and other animal rights entities requesting that petitions from these groups and those of others seeking a reversal of the May 18, 2023 judgement be urgently reviewed.

PETA’s investigative footage released

PETA, on Wednesday, also released video footage from its investigation conducted during the event held in Bengaluru on November 25 and 26 last year. The footage showed buffaloes tethered without food or water, beaten with sticks, and restrained with nose ropes. The animals are also shown shouted at, slapped, and roughly handled at the starting point.
“Unique to Bengaluru, the exhausted buffaloes were forced to race on a longer 155-meter-track, leading to severe physiological stress, as evidenced by heavy salivation, frothing at the mouth, and laboured breathing. These findings were documented in a report and shared with the state government in January 2024,” said PETA in a release.