“Exhibit” and “train” defined.―In this Chapter, “exhibit” means exhibit at any
entertainment to which the public are admitted through sale of tickets and “train” means train for the
purpose of any such exhibition, and the expressions “exhibitor” and “trainer” have respectively the
corresponding meanings.
22. Restriction on exhibition and training of performing animals.―No person shall exhibit or
train―
(i) any performing animal unless he is registered in accordance with the provisions of this
Chapter;
(ii) as a performing animal, any animal which the Central Government may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, specify as an animal which shall not be exhibited or trained as a performing
animal.
23. Procedure for registration.―(1) Every person desirous of exhibiting or training any
performing animal shall, on making an application in the prescribed form to the prescribed authority
and on payment of the prescribed fee, be registered under this Act unless he is a person who, by
reason of an order made by the court under this Chapter, is not entitled to be so registered.
(2) An application for registration under this Chapter shall contain such particulars as to the
animals and as to the general nature of the performances in which the animals are to be exhibited or
for which they are to be trained as may be prescribed, and the particulars so given shall be entered in
the register maintained by the prescribed authority.
(3) The prescribed authority shall give to every person whose name appears on the register kept
by them, a certificate of registration in the prescribed form containing the particulars entered in the
register.
(4) Every register kept under this Chapter shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection on
payment of the prescribed fee, and any person shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, be entitled to
obtain copies thereof or make extracts therefrom.
(5) Any person whose name is entered in the register shall, subject to the provisions of any order
made under this Act by any court, be entitled, on making an application for the purpose, to have the
particulars entered in the register with respect to him varied, and where any such particulars are so
varied, the existing certificate shall be cancelled and a new certificate issued.
24. Power of court to prohibit or restrict exhibition and training of performing
animals.―(1) Where it is proved to the satisfaction of any magistrate on a complaint made by a
police officer or an officer authorised in writing by the prescribed authority referred to in section 23,
that the training or exhibition of any performing animal has been accompanied by unnecessary pain or
suffering and should be prohibited or allowed only subject to conditions, the court may make an order
against the person in respect of whom the complaint is made, prohibiting the training or exhibition or
imposing such conditions in relation thereto, as may be specified by the order.
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(2) Any court by which an order is made under this section shall cause a copy of the order to be
sent, as soon as may be after the order is made, to the prescribed authority by which the person against
whom the order is made is registered, and shall cause the particulars of the order to be endorsed upon
the certificate held by that person, and that person shall produce his certificate on being so required by
the court for the purposes of endorsement, and the prescribed authority to which a copy of an order is
sent under this section shall enter the particulars of the order in that register.
25. Power to enter premises.―(1) Any person authorised in writing by the prescribed authority
referred to in section 23 and any police officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector may―
(a) enter at all reasonable times and inspect any premises in which any performing animals
are being trained or exhibited or kept for training or exhibition, and any such animals found
therein; and
(b) require any person who, he has reason to believe, is a trainer or exhibitor of performing
animals to produce his certificate of registration.
(2) No person or police officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall be entitled under this section to
go on or behind the stage during a public performance of performing animals.
26. Offences.―If any person―
(a) not being registered under this Chapter, exhibits or trains any performing animal; or
(b) being registered under this Act, exhibits or trains any performing animal with respect to
which, or in a manner with respect to which, he is not registered; or
(c) exhibits or trains as a performing animal, any animal which is not to be used for the
purpose by reason of a notification issued under clause (ii) of section 22; or
(d) obstructs or wilfully delays any person or police officer referred to in section 25 in the
exercise of powers under this Act as to entry and inspection; or
(e) conceals any animal with a view to avoiding such inspection; or
(f) being a person registered under this Act, on being duly required in pursuance of this Act to
produce his certificate under this Act, fails without reasonable excuse so to do; or
(g) applies to be registered under this Act when not entitled to be so registered;
he shall be punishable on conviction with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with
imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with both.
27. Exemptions.―Nothing contained in this Chapter shall apply to―
(a) the training of animals for bona fide military or police purposes or the exhibition of any
animals so trained; or
(b) any animals kept in any zoological garden or by any society or association which has for
its principal object the exhibition of animals for educational or scientific purposes.