Union Government to tighten Karnataka's Amendment bill for Kambala

BENGALURU: Clamping down on the state government's powers to include more sports or races involving animals by notifications in the future, the Union government

has asked the state government to effect a minor amendment to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017, and resend it for Presidential assent for the conduct of Kambala, a traditional buffalo race.

The Union Home Ministry has suggested to modify or omit words 'subject to such other conditions as may be prescribed' in the Bill, to prevent inclusion of more sports under the Act through the government notifications in future.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra informed that after the bill aimed at legalizing Kambala was unanimously approved by both Houses, it was sent to the President for his assent. Besides legalising Kambala, the government had also proposed to empower itself to bring in other necessary amendments to the Act, which is a Central Act, in future.

However, the President returned the bill directing the state government to remove a particular sentence which said, "notwithstanding as may be prescribed by the state government through notification" and modify the bill accordingly. The state cabinet on Friday decided to resend the Bill after making necessary modification to the Bill.