‘Why Restrict Culture?’ Supreme Court Dismisses PETA Plea Against Bengaluru Kambala

The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to interfere with a decision permitting the event to be organised in Bengaluru, rejecting the animal rights organisation’s challenge that the race could only be held in Karnataka’s coastal districts where it is traditionally practiced.

PETA had approached the Court through AoR Pritha Srikumar Iyer contending that the High Court had erred in holding that Kambala and similar buffalo races cannot be restricted to the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, where the sport is historically associated with agrarian communities.

The organisation argued that the event has no cultural roots in Bengaluru and that permitting it there would dilute the justification of “tradition and culture” used to defend the sport. Counsel appearing for PETA submitted that the State’s own affidavit recognised that the race is traditionally held in coastal districts. Conducting the event in Bengaluru, the counsel argued, had no connection with the local culture. “The State has said in its affidavit that this is a sport traditional in the coastal areas of two districts in Karnataka. They want to have this event in Palace Grounds in Bangalore. It’s got nothing to do with tradition and culture. It’s not the tradition and culture in Bangalore,” the counsel submitted.

During the hearing, Justice Mehta questioned the premise that a cultural practice must remain confined to the geographical region where it originated. “If the culture is to be showcased in different parts of the State, what is wrong? Let people in other parts of the State be familiar with the culture. Why restrict it to a particular area only?” Justice Mehta observed.

The Bench subsequently dismissed the plea.

Before closing the matter, Justice Mehta also made a pointed remark directed at the petitioner organisation. “One of these days we may put some questions to PETA also. Don’t aspire us to put those questions right now,” he said.

Kambala is a traditional buffalo race held on slushy paddy fields, usually during the winter and early spring season in coastal Karnataka. The sport has historically been associated with farming communities in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Animal rights groups, however, have repeatedly challenged the practice, alleging that it involves cruelty to animals.

The debate around the sport intensified after the Supreme Court’s decision in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014), which recognised that certain traditional animal sports could amount to cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Following the judgment, the Government of Karnataka enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2017, providing a statutory exemption allowing traditional events such as Kambala and bullock cart races to continue under regulated conditions.

The amendment was later upheld by the Supreme Court in Animal Welfare Board of India v. Union of India (2023), where the Court recognised that legislatures could protect cultural and traditional practices through statutory enactments.

PETA has filed a review petition against that judgment. In its challenge before the courts, PETA also alleged that certain Kambala events conducted outside the coastal districts were organised primarily for commercial entertainment rather than cultural preservation.

According to the petitioner, an event held in Bengaluru in November 2023 involved sponsorships by private companies, commercial stalls and parking fees for spectators, suggesting that the race was organised as a commercial spectacle. Despite these allegations, the courts have so far declined to prohibit the conduct of the event outside coastal regions.