Karnataka government defends state-wide buffalo race Kambala, counters PETA’s petition

Karnataka government argues Kambala represents the state's cultural heritage, responding to PETA's claim it's region-specific.

The Karnataka government on Wednesday asserted before the High Court that 'Kambala', a traditional slush track buffalo race, represents the cultural heritage of the entire state, not just a particular region. This statement was made in response to a public interest litigation filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

The Karnataka high court.

PETA's petition argued that Kambala is primarily a tradition of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and that organising the event here is motivated by commercial interests rather than cultural preservation. Advocate General (AG) Shashi Kiran Shetty, representing the state, rejected PETA's claim that Kambala is restricted to specific regions.

He emphasised that Kambala is part of Karnataka’s broader cultural fabric and could potentially be held across the country. The AG further compared the event to horse races, where horses are transported from different locations for competitions across states.

He stressed that the issue at hand was whether the event constituted cruelty to animals, not its geographical location. Shetty also corrected PETA's claim regarding the date of the Bengaluru event, clarifying that no Kambala race was planned for October 26, as previously reported, and that the permission is yet to be sought from the competent authority to hold the event, which is proposed for November.

The division bench, headed by Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, scheduled the next hearing for November 5. The court directed the state to notify it in advance if permission is granted for the event, allowing PETA to take further legal steps if necessary.

PETA's petition sought a stay on any Kambala event in Bengaluru and 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. It also requested that the court restrict Kambala to its traditional rural locations in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.