SC issue notice to centre & others.

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SC issues notice to Centre, Maneka Gandhi and others New Delhi, Nov 02:

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre, Member of Parliament

and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi and others on a petition

challenging the Animal Welfare Board (AWB) of India's authority to give

clearance to films featuring animals.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan sought response from the

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Censor Board of Film

Certification, Gandhi, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (NGO) and the

Board on a petition filed by Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association

(IMPPA).

 

The petitioner said it is mandatory for all the film producers to seek prior

permission of the (AWB) before the film featuring animals is released. This

permission is in addition to the clearance needed from the censor board.

 

Challenging the Bombay High Court order that recognised the board as the

" Prescribed Authority " to give clearance, IMPPA alleged that the " prescribed

authority " and the Board were two different entities having different

functions.

 

It is the Central government and not the AWB which constitute the prescribed

authority under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001, the

petition stated, adding " the High Court has in fact nullified and frustrated

the object and effect of the amendment... " .

 

Besides, it said the AWB was located in Chennai and film producers faced

immense hardships in getting clearances for their films before release.

 

The High Court had passed the order on a petition filed by PETA and Gandhi

seeking enforcement of the 2001 Rules.

 

Bureau Report

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=405181 & sid=NAT & sname= & news=SC%20is\

sues%20notice%20to%20Centre,%20Maneka%20Gandhi%20and%20others

 

 

 

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