Punjab to enact law to pave way for resumption of bullock cart race at Kila Raipur

  • | Sunday | 17th February, 2019

The Punjab Cabinet Sunday gave its nod to enact a law that will pave the way for revival of the traditional annual bullock cart races at Kila Raipur Rural Sports festival in Ludhiana. AdvertisingFor the past four years, there have been no bullock cart races at Kila Raipur Sports Festival, popularly known as ‘mini or rural Olympics’. Subsequently, various representations were received from time to time by the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Animal Husbandry Minister to allow bullock cart races. “Bullock cart races had been an integral part of the state’s rich cultural legacy and heritage, till they were prohibited by the Supreme Court in 2014. The government feels the sport also enriches the cultural heritage and tradition of Punjab, while being a great source of entertainment, especially for rural Punjab.

The Punjab Cabinet Sunday gave its nod to enact a law that will pave the way for revival of the traditional annual bullock cart races at Kila Raipur Rural Sports festival in Ludhiana. Advertising For the past four years, there have been no bullock cart races at Kila Raipur Sports Festival, popularly known as ‘mini or rural Olympics’. To pave way for resumption of bullock cart races, the state government has decided to bring in ‘Prevention of Cruelty Animal (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 to amend the Central Act 59 of 1960. The Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of chief minister Amarinder Singh, gave the green signal to present the Bill, in the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Assembly for enactment. “Bullock cart races had been an integral part of the state’s rich cultural legacy and heritage, till they were prohibited by the Supreme Court in 2014. Subsequently, various representations were received from time to time by the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Animal Husbandry Minister to allow bullock cart races. “The State Cabinet, in its meeting on October last year, had detailed deliberations and favoured a law to legally allow Kila Raipur sports, in which various animals also participate,” a Punjab government release said here after the cabinet meet. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (Central Act 59 of 1960) was enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary cruelty and suffering on animals. “The Act also recognises the need to exempt the application of its provisions in certain circumstances. “The state government has decided to exempt the conduct of Bullock-Cart Racing in Kila Raipur Rural Sports event from the provisions of the said Central Act 59 of 1960, in view of the significant role played by the traditional rural sporting event and fair, which has been taking place at Kila Raipur (Ludhiana) since the 1930s, in promoting the spirit of games and sports. The government feels the sport also enriches the cultural heritage and tradition of Punjab, while being a great source of entertainment, especially for rural Punjab. “It is in this background that the state government has decided to amend the Central Act 59 of 1960 in its application to the State of Punjab for the resumption of bullock cart races during the annual Kila Raipur rural sports.” Advertising Among other decisions, the Cabinet on Sunday cleared the presentation of the Budget Estimates for 2019-20, along with various accounts and CAG audit reports, in the ongoing budget session of the Vidhan Sabha.

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