Tuesday, September 6 2005 16:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ruled that producers of film and television advertisements should not use animals or birds for shoots without registering them with the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice D Y Chandrachud recently ordered the censor board to ask the producer of film or advertisement in which animals are used to produce certificate from animal welfare board certifying that provisions of animal (registration) rules have been complied with.

The Court also asked the censor board to inform the trade bodies about the need for such a Certicate.

PETA pleaded that several provisions enacted by the centre were not implemented.

Its counsel, Raj Punwani, argued that filmmakers were committing breach of such provisions by not registering animals with the animal welfare board before using them for shoots.

The Court observed, "The manner in which the society treats living beings is reflective of its culture, compassion, and development. Protecting the welfare of animals is a constitutional goal and is a matter of legislative policy. No authority can turn a blind eye to animal welfare as they are mute and cannot protest. The PIL has merits and the rules must be adhered to".