PETA urges Karnataka High Court to halt Kambala race in Bengaluru

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has approached the Karnataka High Court to stop the Kambala, a bullock race event scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on October 25.

The public interest litigation (PIL) was mentioned for urgent hearing on Monday before a Bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind by Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa.

Chinnappa said that the event, traditionally held in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, is scheduled to be held in the city this month for which bullocks from across the State will be brought to Bengaluru.

“The event is really cruel to animals,” Chinnappa told the Court.

PETA further said it had filed the PIL in July this year, but could not get it listed so far. It was thus forced to mention the matter seeking an urgent hearing.

The Court said it would hear the matter tomorrow.

Senior Advocate Chinnappa was instructed by Keystone Partners.

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had in May last year upheld laws allowing Jallikattu, Kambala and bull cart racing in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, made by the respective state governments.

PETA had approached the apex court with a review petition against this verdict.