Mangaluru: The Supreme Court Constitutional Bench has given a historic verdict on allowing full-scale Kambala competition on the coast and Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, with this the anxiety that was plaguing the Kambala sport for the past few years has gone away.
The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court dismissed the petitions challenging the constitutionality of the laws allowing Jallikattu, Kambala and bullock cart racing in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, which are part of the cultural heritage of the people. The Judiciary held that it cannot be seen from a different angle.
A Constitution Bench comprising Justices K. M. Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and C. T. Ravikumar upheld the law allowing carpet and bullock cart races in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Kambala, which had been in a legal battle since 2014, was halted in 2016-17, against which there was a massive struggle in the undivided Dakshina Kannada District with widespread outrage. Later, through the President’s Ordinance and Bill Amendment, all carpets have been running successfully since 2017-18 without any hindrance. The total hearing of the petitions submitted to the Supreme Court by the Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Viruddapeta organisation seeking the cancellation of the Karnataka Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act-2017 (Second Amendment), which allowed for the Tulu Nadu Folk Sports Carpet, was transferred to the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. Now the decision of the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench has created a stir among sports fans.
Despite the controversies surrounding animal welfare and allegations of promoting gambling, plans are in motion to bring Kambala, a traditional folk sport, under an organised framework.
The Kambala Academy is proposing welfare initiatives such as insurance coverage for Kamzbla jockeys and animals, along with a funding mechanism. However, these proposals have yet to be coordinated with the Kambala District Committee.
The Academy’s founder mentor, Gunapal Kadamba, highlights the physical prowess of the jockeys who sprint barefoot on a slush track alongside buffaloes, completing the race in approximately 14 seconds. To protect them, the Academy aims to provide insurance coverage for the jockeys.
The Academy acts as a catalyst in this process, while the Kambala Committee, responsible for managing the races in the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod Districts, will ultimately make a decision on the proposal. However, the committee remains non-committal due to the ongoing legal battle with animal welfare organisations and the Ministry of Animal Husbandry. While the insurance coverage amount is yet to be determined, supporters of Kambala suggest a sum of one lakh rupees per jockey. It is important to note that many jockeys come from agricultural backgrounds and lack financial resources.
Currently, various animal-driven folk sports, including Kambala, are under scrutiny in the courts. The governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, who support these traditions, have expressed a willingness to modify their animal welfare acts to satisfy the court’s concerns. However, the question of altering the anatomical characteristics of animals used in these races remains unanswered. Animal rights activists, such as PETA, argue against the cruelty inflicted on animals in Karnataka’s animal-driven sports and refute claims of non-cruelty made by Kambala organizers.
Additionally, Kambala enthusiasts have raised concerns about the use of elephants during the Dasara procession in Mysuru. They question the suitability of elephants’ physiology for walking on flat surfaces for prolonged periods, as well as their ability to bear the weight of the Howdah during the festival. These activists also highlight the impact of gun booms during practice sessions on the elephants, horses, and other palace animals.