Vidhi Codex

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Environmental1972166 sections13 chapters

The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 is an Indian law designed to conserve and manage wildlife to ensure the country's ecological and environmental security. It regulates the hunting of wild animals, the management of protected areas like sanctuaries and National Parks, and commercial trade in wildlife products,,,. The legislation applies throughout India, affecting everyone from commercial traders, taxidermists, and poachers to everyday citizens, while offering some protections for local forest dwellers,,,. Ultimately, this vital law matters because it aims to halt the alarming decline and extinction of India's diverse animals and plants,.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.

Chapter II AUTHORITIES TO BE APPOINTED OR CONSTITUTES UNDER THE ACT →

  1. 3Appointment of Director and other officers.
  2. 4Appointment of Life Warden and other officers.
  3. 5Power to delegate.
  4. 5AConstitution of the National Board for Wild Life.
  5. 5BStanding Committee of the National Board.
  6. 5CFunctions of the National Board.
  7. 6Constitution of State Board for Wild Life.
  8. 6AStanding Committee of Board.
  9. 7Procedure to be followed by the Board
  10. 8Duties of State Board for Wild Life.

Chapter III HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS →

  1. 9Prohibition of hunting.
  2. 10Omitted..
  3. 11Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases.
  4. 12Grant of permit for special purposes.
  5. 13Omitted..
  6. 14Omitted..
  7. 15Omitted..
  8. 16Omitted..
  9. 17Omitted..

Chapter IV CHAPTER IV →

  1. 18Declaration of sanctuary.
  2. 18AProtection to sanctuaries
  3. 18BAppointment of Collectors.
  4. 19Collector to determine rights.
  5. 20Bar of accrual of rights.
  6. 21Proclamation by Collector.
  7. 22Inquiry by Collector.
  8. 23Powers of Collector.
  9. 24Acquisition of rights.
  10. 25Acquisition proceedings.
  11. 25ATime-limit for completion of acquisition proceedings.
  12. 26Delegation of Collector's powers.
  13. 26ADeclaration of area as sanctuary.
  14. 27Restriction on entry in sanctuary.
  15. 28Grant of permit.
  16. 29Destruction, etc., in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit.
  17. 30Causing fire prohibited.
  18. 31Prohibition of entry into sanctuary with weapon.
  19. 32Ban on use of injurious substances.
  20. 33Control of sanctuaries.
  21. 33AImmunisation of live-stock.
  22. 33BAdvisory Committee.
  23. 34Registration of certain persons in possession of arms.
  24. 35Declaration of National Parks.
  25. 36Omitted..
  26. 36ADeclaration and management of a conservation reserve.
  27. 36BConservation reserve management committee.
  28. 36CDeclaration and management of community reserve.
  29. 36DCommunity reserve management committee.
  30. 37Omitted..
  31. 38Power of Central Government to declare areas as sanctuaries or National Parks or conservation reserves.

Chapter IV NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY →

  1. 38KDefinitions
  2. 38LConstitution of National Tiger Conservation Authority.
  3. 38MTerm of office and conditions of service of members.
  4. 38NOfficers and employees of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  5. 38OPowers and functions of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  6. 38PProcedure to be regulated by Tiger Conservation Authority.
  7. 38QGrants and loans to Tiger Conservation Authority and Constitution of Fund.
  8. 38RAccounts and audit of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  9. 38SAnnual report of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  10. 38TAnnual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament.
  11. 38UConstitution of Steering Committee.
  12. 38VTiger Conservation Plan.
  13. 38WAlteration and de-notification of tiger reserves.
  14. 38XEstablishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation.
  15. 38XAProvisions of Chapter to be in addition to provisions relating to sanctuaries and National Park.

Chapter IV TIGER AND OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES CRIME CONTROL BUREAU →

  1. 38YConstitution of Wild Life Crime Control Bureau.
  2. 38ZPowers and functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.

Chapter V TRADE OR COMMERCE IN WILD ANIMALS, ANIMAL ARTICLES AND TROPHIES →

  1. 39Wild animals, etc., to be Government property.
  2. 40Declarations
  3. 40AImmunity in certain cases.
  4. 41Inquiry and preparation of inventories.
  5. 42Certificate of ownership.
  6. 42ASurrender of captive animals, animal article, etc
  7. 43Regulation of transfer of animal, etc.
  8. 44Dealings in trophy and animal articles without licence prohibited.
  9. 45Suspension or cancellation of licences.
  10. 46Purchase.
  11. 47Maintenance of records.
  12. 48Purchase of animals, etc., by licensee.
  13. 48ARestriction on transportation of wild life.
  14. 49Purchase of captive animal, etc., by a person other than a licensee.
  15. 49-IConditions for scheduled specimens.
  16. 49-OLicence of breeders of Appendix I species.

Chapter VI PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF OFFENCES →

  1. 50Power of entry, search, arrest and detention.
  2. 51Penalties.
  3. 51ACertain conditions to apply while granting bail.
  4. 52Attempts and abetment.
  5. 53Punishment for wrongful seizure.
  6. 54Power to compound offences.
  7. 55Cognizance of offences.
  8. 56Operation of other laws not barred.
  9. 57Presumption to be made in certain cases.
  10. 58Offences by Companies.

Chapter VII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 59Officers to be public servants.
  2. 60Protection of action taken in good faith.
  3. 60AReward to persons.
  4. 60BReward by State Government.
  5. 61Power to alter entries in Schedules
  6. 62Declaration of certain wild animals to be vermin.
  7. 62ARegulation or prohibition of import, etc., of invasive alien species.
  8. 62BPower to issue directions.
  9. 63Power of Central Government to make rules
  10. 64Power of State Government to make rules.
  11. 65Rights of Scheduled Tribes to be protected.
  12. 66Repeal and savings.

Chapter IIIA PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS →

  1. 17AProhibition of picking, uprooting, etc. of specified plant.
  2. 17BGrants of permit for special purposes.
  3. 17CCultivation of specified plants without licence prohibited.
  4. 17DDealing in specified plants without licence prohibited.
  5. 17EDeclaration of stock.
  6. 17FPossession, etc., of plants by licensee
  7. 17GPurchase, etc., of specified plants.
  8. 17HPlants to be Government property.

Chapter IVA CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY AND RECOGNITION OF ZOOS →

  1. 38AConstitution of Central Zoo Authority
  2. 38BTerm of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and members, etc.
  3. 38CFunctions of the Authority
  4. 38DProcedure to be regulated by the Authority.
  5. 38EGrants and loans to Authority and Constitution of Fund.
  6. 38FAnnual report.
  7. 38GAnnual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament.
  8. 38HRecognition of zoos.
  9. 38IAcquisition of animals by a zoo.
  10. 38JProhibition of teasing, etc., in a zoo.

Chapter VA PROHIBITION OF TRADE OR COMMERCE IN TROPHIES, ANIMAL ARTICLES, ETC., DERIVED FROM CERTAIN ANIMALS →

  1. 49ADefinitions.
  2. 49BProhibition of dealings in trophies, animal articles, etc., derived from scheduled animals.
  3. 49CDeclaration by dealers.
  4. 49DDefinitions.
  5. 49EDesignation of Management Authority
  6. 49FDesignation of Scientific Authority.
  7. 49GDirections of Central Government.
  8. 49HInternational trade in Scheduled specimen and restriction in respect thereof
  9. 49JConditions for import of scheduled specimens
  10. 49KConditions for re-export of scheduled specimens.
  11. 49LConditions for introfuction from sea of scheduled specimens.
  12. 49MPossession transfer and breeding of living scheduled animal species.
  13. 49NApplication for Licence by breeders of Appendix I species
  14. 49PProhibition on alteration, etc.
  15. 49QSpecies and scheduled specimens to be Government property
  16. 49RApplication of provisions of Act in respect of species listed in Schedule I or II and Schedule IV.

Chapter VIA FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL HUNTING AND TRADE →

  1. 58AApplication.
  2. 58BDefinitions.
  3. 58CProhibition of holding illegally acquired property.
  4. 58DCompetent authority.
  5. 58EIdentifying illegally acquired property.
  6. 58FSeizure or freezing of illegally acquired property.
  7. 58GManagement of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter.
  8. 58HNotice of forfeiture of property.
  9. 58IForfeiture of property in certain cases
  10. 58JBurden of proof.
  11. 58KFine in lieu of forfeiture.
  12. 58LProcedure in relation to certain trust properties.
  13. 58MCertain transfer to be null and void.
  14. 58NConstitution of Applellate Tribunal.
  15. 58OAppeals.
  16. 58PNotice or order not to be invalid for error in description.
  17. 58QBar of Jurisdiction.
  18. 58RCompetent Authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court.
  19. 58SInformation to competent authority.
  20. 58TCertain officers to assist Administrator, competent authority and Appellate Tribunal.
  21. 58UPower to take possession.
  22. 58VRectification of mistakes.
  23. 58WFindings under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Chapter.
  24. 58XService of notices and orders.
  25. 58YPunishment for acquiring property in relating to which proceeings have been taken under this Chapter.

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