Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district administration on Friday banned Kambala (buffalo racing on slush tracks). Last week, the Udupi administration had banned the sport. The ban was imposed by the department of animal husbandry and veterinary sciences based on a Supreme Court order dated May 7, 2014.

The department circular dated November 21 stated that the conduct of Kambala in Dakshina Kannada district is a violation of Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.

Thippeswamy, deputy director of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department said, “Legal action under the Act will be taken against officials and the Kambala organisers if the Supreme Court order is not followed”.

Though the Supreme court order was given in the context of Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu, the verdict had also said that events such as Kambala definentely come under the ambit of cruelty.

“The State Government will appeal to the board on allowing Kambala. Until there is a clarification or modification issued by the board, the ban will be enforced, he said.

However, the Kambala Committee of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod president Bhaskar Kotain said that the Supreme Court had not mentioned Kambala in its verdict.