AWBI sues channels for violating Animal Performance Act

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent | Chennai
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has served notices to televisions channels, including Kalaignar TV, Sun TV, Jaya TV, Vijay TV and Raj TV for telecasting serials that had violated the Animal Performance Act. AWBI also proposes to issue notices to few national channels in the first week of November.

A copy of the notice that was served on the channels, available with Televisionpoint.com read, "It was brought to the notice of AWBI that animals were used to perform in TV commercials and serials without valid registration under the performing animals act. In this connection it is informed that without getting registration under performing animals rules 2001 from AWBI, it is illegal to telecast scenes related to animals."

The letter also urged the authorities concerned to take immediate action.

D. Rajasekar, secretary, AWBI, said a majority of the vernacular channels in the state were violating the animal welfare rules. For instance, currently Sun TV was telecasting the serial Nagavalli, in which snakes were used to perform in the serial, but the reptiles were not registered under the rules, he said.

Similarly, in a popular dance show camels were used to perform. "We will provide three weeks for the channels to respond, failing which legal cases would be filed against them," he said.