The Meghalaya Wild Animals And Birds Protection Act, 1971
The Meghalaya Wild Animals And Birds Protection Act, 1971
The Meghalaya Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, 1971, regulates the hunting, capture, sale, and possession of wild animals, birds, meat, and trophies within Meghalaya. It applies to everyone in the state, excluding cases of personal defense or legally domesticated species. By enabling the government to declare protected close times and empowering local police and forest officers to search, arrest, and seize weapons, the law deters poaching. This legislation matters because it safeguards regional biodiversity and prevents species extinction while permitting regulated scientific research. Ultimately, it penalizes violators with fines and imprisonment to preserve this highly valuable local ecological heritage.
- 1. Short title and commencement.
- 2. Definitions
- 3. Application of Act
- 4. Domesticated and other animals and birds in captivity exempted.
- 5. Close time
- 6. Power of entry, search, arrest and detention
- 7. Production of persons arrested and things seized
- 8. Report of arrest and seizure.
- 9. Arrest how to be made
- 10. Searches and seizures how to be made
- 11. Refusal to produce things or furnish information to be unlawful
- 12. Penalties
- 13. Procedure as to disposal of perishable property seized
- 14. Penalty for subsequent offences
- 15. Power to compound offence
- 16. When Court to take cognizance of offence
- 17. Issue of license for special purpose
- 18. Operation of other laws not barred
- 19. Defence of life and property
- 20. Protection to persons acting on good faith
- 21. Power to make rules
- 22. Removal of difficulties
PDF: pending for this language.