Kambala won’t be held at Pilikula on Nov 17: Karnataka govt to HC

The state government on Tuesday informed the high court that no event, related to Kambala, is going to be conducted at Pilikula Zoo in Mangaluru on November 17, the scheduled date. 

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, adjourned the next hearing until November 20. 

The bench was hearing a PIL petition filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) seeking directions to the state government to enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (amended in 2017) and the government of Karnataka notification dated November 14, 2017. 

PETA also moved an application seeking an amendment to the prayer challenging the scheduled race at a place called Pilikula in Mangaluru.

At the hearing, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty said that the event would not take place on November 17. 

Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that while Pilikula is within Dakshina Kannada, one of the districts where Kambala is permitted as per law, the conduct of the race will be harmful to animals in the zoo situated there. 

The advocate also said Kambala, scheduled for November 17, was to be
held within 111 metres of the zoo, which is within its perimeter. 

The petitioners sought permission to implead the deputy commissioner, Dakshina Kannada district, and the Pilikula Development Authority as party respondents and the same was granted.