Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Animal welfare board notice to Vodafone

Animal welfare board notice to Vodafone
================================================================================
NewsByte on 01 May, 2008 05:49:00
 
Chennai: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has accused telecom service
provider Vodafone of indulging in cruelty to animals and issued a legal notice
to the company and to Bangalore-based Nirvana Films, makers of an advertisement
that shows a pug running after a school bus.
In its notice sent April 25, Chennai headquartered AWBI said, "The pet dog was
made to run, gallop and chase the school van for a long time on a public road.
Thereby, the dog was made to undergo severe pain and suffering due to the
exhaustion caused by chasing (the bus)."
AWBI lawyer S R Sundaram said, "The final film should strictly follow the
script submitted at the time of pre-shoot permission for the animal
performances. It is also directed that the performing animals should not be
subjected to any cruelty, failing which the AWBI will initiate legal proceedings
under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960."
Nirvana Film's counsel Balshankar Menon on March 29 submitted an application
seeking the AWBI's approval of the advertisement, saying that the male pug
called Rocky was Vodafone's brand icon. Menon said the film was shot in South
Africa and Nirvana submitted a "post-shoot fitness certificate duly signed by
the veterinary doctor" while applying for the no-objection certificate.
AWBI has, however, told Nirvana Films and Vodafone that it has been "illegally"
telecasting the advertisement for the last two weeks as AWBI's Film Screening
Committee has found the portion of the advertisement in which the pug runs
behind the bus objectionable. The AWBI has ordered Nirvana Films and Vodafone to
remove that part of the advertisement.
"It has been brought to the notice of the Film Screening Committee that your ad
film has been already telecast and continuously being tele casted for the past
two weeks and such a telecast is illegal, and flagrant violation since the above
said ad film is yet to be accorded permission/ approval/clearance," ABWI added.
(IANS)