Supreme Court refuses to issue stay on Karnataka's Kambala buffalo race, fixes 12 March as date for final hearing

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant Karnataka’s buffalo race, Kambala, an interim stay. A bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud, however, fixed 12 March for a final hearing on the plea by animal rights body PETA in the matter. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the state ordinance allowing Kambala has lapsed and the buffalo race has no legal sanction at present. To pave the way for the festival, the state cabinet had on 28 January, 2017 decided to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, (Central Act 59 of 1960), enacted to prevent infliction of unnecessary cruelty and suffering on animals. [caption id=“attachment_3281052” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Bullock cart races are held in parts of north Karnataka and in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The Kambala race, held between November and March, involves a pair of buffaloes tied to a plough and anchored by one person. They are made to run in parallel muddy tracks in a competition in which the fastest team wins. It is believed to be held to propitiate the gods for a good harvest, besides being a recreational sport for farmers. PETA has opposed the upcoming Kambala festival on grounds of cruelty to animals. Calling for banning the sport, it said the agitators have taken a leaf out of the pro-jallikattu protesters’ book. Earlier, another animal rights’ body, Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), had approached the apex court challenging the bill to legalise traditional buffalo races in Karnataka.