New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) Delhi High Court today asked the Chief Wildlife Warden of Jammu and Kashmir, who appeared in person, to file his reply to the allegation in a petition relating to torture of 2000 animals during the shooting of Akbar Khan's 'Taj Mahal' in Ladakh in 2004.

A Division Bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and H R Malhotra asked the Chief Wildlife Warden A K Srivastava to file his reply by March 13, the next date of hearing.

The court had issued bailable warrant against the official on January 25 for not appearing before the court despite receiving the notice in December 2005.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA) in a PIL said sanction was not granted to the producer to use 2000 camels, horses and elephants in the sub-zero temperature at Ladakh during the shooting of the film in the summers of 2004.

The animals, which did not belong to the cold climate, had faced lots of sufferings, said Counsel Raj Paunjwani appearing for PETA.

On December 14, 2005, the High Court had issuded notices to filmmaker Akbar Khan, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Censor Board, Animal Welfare Board and Chief Wildlife Warden of Jammu and Kashmir to file their replies by March 31.

UNI