The Centre has banned the depiction of cruelty or violence towards animals in any form on television, cable and other broadcasting networks.
In a notification on August 19, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry said the new rules had been included in the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2016. The clause bans depiction of cruelty or violence towards animals in any form or promoting unscientific beliefs that causes harm to animals.
Gauri Maulekhi, government affairs liaison for Humane Society International (India) and People for Animals trustee, said: “We thank the Ministry for their proactive measure in combating animal cruelties on visual media in consonance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The amendment, if effectively implemented, will spare animals from cruelty during training and performance in the entertainment industry.”
The new rules do not apply to news or education programmes as long as they do not promote violence towards animals or shown animal cruelty in a positive light or unscientific manner.
For the past two years, the HSI (India) and the PFA have been raising the issue to discontinue the portrayal of animals in shows where they are required to perform acts or stunts at risk of grave injuries or even death.
