Chapter IV CHAPTER IV

1[18. Declaration of sanctuary.-- 2[(1) The State Government may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute any area other than an area comprised within any reserve forest or the territorial waters as a sanctuary if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wild life or its environment.]

1. (2) The notification referred to in sub-section (1) shall specify, as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of such area. Explanation.-- For the purposes of this section, it shall be sufficient to describe the area by roads, rivers, ridges or other well-known or readily intelligible boundaries.]

1[18A. Protection to sanctuaries.--(1) When the State Government declares its intention under sub-section (1) of section 18 to constitute any area, not comprised within any reserve forest or territorial waters under that sub-section, as a sanctuary, the provisions of sections 27 to 33A (both inclusive) shall come into effect forthwith.

1. (2) Till such time as the rights of affected persons are finally settled under sections 19 to 24 (both inclusive), the State Government shall make alternative arrangements required for making available fuel, fodder and other forest produce to the persons affected, in terms of their rights as per the Government records.]

1[18B. Appointment of Collectors.-- The State Government shall appoint, an officer to act as Collector under the Act, within ninety days of coming into force of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 (16 of 2003), or within thirty days of the issue of notification under section 18, to inquire into and determine the existence, nature and extent of rights of any person in or over the land comprised within the limits of the sanctuary which may be notified under sub-section (1) of section 18.]

1[When a notification has been issued under section 18,] the Collector shall inquire into, and determine, the existence, nature and extent of the rights of any person in or over the land comprised within the limits of the sanctuary.

After the issue of a notification under section 18, no right shall be acquired in, on or over the land comprised within the limits of the area specified in such notification, except by succession, testamentary or intestate.

When a notification has been issued under section 18, the Collector shall1[within a period of sixty days] publish in the regional language in every town and village in or in the neighbourhood of the area comprised therein, a proclamation--

1. (a) specifying, as nearly as possible, the situation and the limits of the sanctuary; and
2. (b) requiring any person, claiming any right mentioned In section 19, to prefer before the Collector, within two months from the date of such proclamation, a written claim in the prescribed form, specifying the nature and extent of such right with necessary details and the amount and particulars of compensation, if any, claimed in respect thereof.

The Collector shall, after service of the prescribed notice upon the claimant, expeditiously inquire into--

1. (a) the claim preferred before him under clause (b) of section 21, and
2. (b) the existence of any right mentioned in section 19 and not claimed under clause (b) of section 21, so far as the same may be ascertainable from the records of the State Government and the evidence of any person acquainted with the same.

For the purpose of such inquiry, the Collector may exercise the following powers, namely:--

1. (a) the power to enter in or upon any land and to survey, demarcate and make a map of the same or to authorise any other officer to do so;
2. (b) the same powers as are vested in a civil court for the trial of suits.

1. (1) In the case of a claim to a right in or over any land referred to in section 19, the Collector shall pass an order admitting or rejecting the same in whole or in part.
2. (2) If such claim is admitted in whole or in part, the Collector may either--
   • (a) exclude such land from the limits of the proposed sanctuary, or
   • (b) proceed to acquire such land or rights, except where by an agreement between the owner of such land or holder of rights and the Government, the owner or holder of such rights has agreed to surrender his rights to the Government, in or over such land" and on payment of such compensation, as is provided in the 1[Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013).] 2[(c) allow, in consultation with the Chief Wild Life Warden, the continuation of any right of any person in or over any land within the limits of the sanctuary.]

1. (1) For the purpose of acquiring such land, or rights in or over such land,
   • (a) the Collector shall be deemed to be a Collector, proceeding under the 1[Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013);]
   • (b) the claimant shall be deemed to be a person interested and appearing before him in pursuance of a notice given under 2[section 21ic] of that Act;
   • (c) the provisions of the sections, preceding 2[section 21] of that Act, shall be deemed to have been complied with;
   • (d) where the claimant does not accept the award made in his favour ha the matter of compensation, he shall be deemed, within the meaning of 3[section 64] of that Act, to be a person interested who has not accepted the award, and shall be entitled to proceed to claim relief against the award under the provisions of 3[Chapter VIII] of that Act;
   • (e) the Collector, with the consent of the claimant, or 4[the Authority], with the consent of both the parties, may award compensation in land or money or partly in land and partly in money; and
   • (f) in the case of the stoppage of a public way or a common pasture, the Collector may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, provide for an alternative public way or common pasture, as far as may be practicable or convenient. 5[Explanation.--The expression "Authority" referred to in clause (e), shall mean the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority established under section 51 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013).]
2. (2) The acquisition under this Act of any land or interest therein shall be deemed to be acquisition for a public purpose.

1[25A. Time-limit for completion of acquisition proceedings.--(1) The Collector shall, as far as possible, complete the proceedings under sections 19 to 25 (both inclusive), within a period of two years from the date of notification of declaration of sanctuary under section 18.

1. (2) The notification shall not lapse if, for any reasons, the proceedings are not completed within a period of two years.]

The State Government may, by general or special order, direct that the Powers exercisable or the functions to be performed by the Collector under sections 19 to 25 (both inclusive) may be exercised and performed by such other officer as may be specified in the order.

1[26A. Declaration of area as sanctuary.-- (1) When--

1. (a) a notification has been issued under section 18 and the period for preferring claims has elapsed, and all claims, if any, made in relation to any land in an area intended to be declared as a sanctuary, have been disposed of by the State Government; or
2. (b) any area comprised within any reserve forest or any part of the territorial waters, which is considered by the State Government to be of adequate ecological faunal floral geomorphological, natural or zoological significance for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wild life or its environment, is to be included in a sanctuary, the State Government shall issue a notification specifying the limits of the area which shall be comprised within the sanctuary and declare that the said area shall be sanctuary on and from such date as may be specified in the notification: Provided that where any part of the territorial waters is to be so included, prior concurrence of the Central Government shall be obtained by the State Government: Provided further that the limits of the area of the territorial waters to be included in the sanctuary shall be determined in consultation with the Chief Naval Hydrographer of the Central Government and after taking adequate measures to protect the occupational interests of the local fishermen.

1. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section(1), the right of innocent passage of any vessel or boat through the territorial waters shall not be affected by the notification issued under sub-section (1). 2[(3) No alteration of the boundaries of a sanctuary shall be made by the State Government except on a recommendation of the National Board.]

1. (1) No person other than,--
   • (a) a public servant on duty,
   • (b) a person who has been permitted by the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer to reside within the limits of the sanctuary,
   • (c) a person who has any right over immovable property within the limits of the sanctuary,
   • (d) a person passing through the sanctuary along a public highway, and
   • (e) the dependants of the person referred to in clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c), shall enter or reside in the sanctuary, except under and in accordance with the conditions of a permit granted under section 28.
2. (2) Every person shall, so long, as he resides in the sanctuary, be bound--
   • (a) to prevent the commission, in the sanctuary, of an offence against this Act;
   • (b) where there is reason to believe that any such offence against this Act has been committed in such sanctuary, to help in discovering and arresting the offender;
   • (c) to report the death of any wild animal and to safeguard its remains until the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer takes charge thereof;
   • (d) to extinguish any fire in such sanctuary of which he has knowledge or information and to prevent from spreading, by any lawful means in his power, any fire within the vicinity of such sanctuary of which he has knowledge or information; and
   • (e) to assist any forest officer, Chief Wild Life. Warden, Wild Life Warden or police officer demanding his aid for preventing the commission of any offence against this Act or in the investigation of any such offence. 1[(3) No person shall, with intent to cause damage to any boundary-mark of a sanctuary or to cause wrongful gain as defined in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860), alter, destroy, move or deface such boundary-mark.
3. (4) No person shall tease or molest any wild animal or litter the grounds of sanctuary.]

1. (1) The Chief Wild Life Warden may, on application, grant to any person a permit to enter or reside in a sanctuary for all or any of the following purposes, namely:--
   • (a) investigation or study of wild life and purposes ancillary or incidental thereto;
   • (b) photography 1[and film-making without making any change in the habitat or causing any adverse impact to the habitat or wild life;]
   • (c) scientific research;
   • (d) tourism;
   • (e) transaction of lawful business with any person residing in the sanctuary.
2. (2) A permit to enter or reside in a sanctuary shall be issued subject to such conditions and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

1[29. Destruction, etc., in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit.--No person shall destroy, exploit or remove any wild life including forest produce from a sanctuary or destroy or damage or divert the habitat of any wild animal by any act whatsoever or divert, stop or enhance the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary, except under and in accordance with a permit granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden, and no such permit shall be granted unless the State Government being satisfied in consultation with the 2[National Board] that such removal of wild life from the sanctuary or the change in the flow of water into or outside the sanctuary is necessary for the improvement and better management of wild life therein, authorises the issue of such permit: Provided that where the forest produce is removed from a sanctuary the same may be used for meeting the personal bona fide needs of the people living in and around the sanctuary and shall not be used for any commercial purpose. 3[Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, grazing or movement of livestock permitted under clause (d) of section 33, or hunting of wild animals under a permit granted under section 11 or hunting without violating the conditions of a permit granted under section 12, or the exercise of any rights permitted to continue under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 24, including the bona fide use of drinking and household water by local communities until they are settled, shall not be deemed to be an act prohibited under this section.]

No person shall set fire to a sanctuary, or kindle any fire, or leave any fire burning, in a sanctuary, in such manner as to endanger such sanctuary.

No person shall enter a sanctuary with any weapon except with the previous permission in writing of the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer.

No person shall use, in a sanctuary, chemicals, explosives or any other substances which may cause injury to, or endanger, any wild life in such sanctuary.

The Chief Wild Life Warden shall be the authority who shall control, 1[manage and protect all sanctuaries in accordance with such management plans for the sanctuary approved by him as per the guidelines issued by the Central Government and in case the sanctuary also falls under the Scheduled Areas or areas where the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (2 of 2007) is applicable, in accordance with the management plan for such sanctuary prepared after due consultation with the Gram Sabha concerned] and for that purpose, within the limits of any sanctuary,--

1. (a) may construct such roads, bridges, buildings, fences or barrier gates, and carry out such other works as he may consider necessary for the purposes of such sanctuary: 2[Provided that no construction of 3[tourist lodges, including Government lodges, for commercial purposes], hotels, zoos and safari parks shall be undertaken inside a sanctuary except with the prior approval of the National Board.]
2. (b) shall take such steps as will ensure the security of wild animals in the sanctuary and the preservation of the sanctuary and wild animals therein;
3. (c) may take such measures, in the interests of wild life, as he may consider necessary for the improvement of any habitat;
4. (d) may regulate, control or prohibit, in keeping with the interests of wild life, the grazing or movement of 4[live-stock.] 5***

1[33A. Immunisation of live-stock.-- (1) The Chief Wild Life Warden shall take such measures in such manner, as may be prescribed, for immunisation against communicable diseases of the live-stock kept in or within five kilometres of a sanctuary.

1. (2) No person shall take, or cause to be taken or grazed, any live-stock in a sanctuary without getting it immunised.]

1[33B. Advisory Committee.-- (1) The State Government shall constitute an Advisory Committee consisting of the Chief Wild Life Warden or his nominee not below the rank of Conservator of Forests as its head and shall include a member of the State Legislature within whose constituency the sanctuary is situated, three representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, two representatives of non-governmental organisations and three individuals active in the field of wild life conservation, one representative each from departments dealing with Home and Veterinary matters, Honorary Wild Life Warden, if any, and the officer-in-charge of the sanctuary as Member-Secretary.

1. (2) The Committee shall render advice on measures to be taken for better conservation and management of the sanctuary including participation of the people living within and around the sanctuary.
2. (3) The Committee shall regulate its own procedure including quorum.]

1. (1) Within three months from the declaration of any area as a sanctuary, every person residing in or within ten kilometres of any such sanctuary and holding a licence granted under the Arms Act, 1959(54 of 1959), for the possession of arms or exempted from the provisions of that Act and possessing arms, shall apply in such form, on payment of such fee and within such time as may be prescribed, to the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer, for the registration of his name.
2. (2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer shall register the name of the applicant in such manner as may be prescribed. 1[(3) No new licences under the Arms Act, 1959 (54 of 1959) shall be granted within a radius of ten kilometres of a sanctuary without the prior concurrence of the Chief Wild Life Warden.] 2[(4) No renewal of any licence under the Arms Act, 1959, (54 of 1959) shall be granted to any person residing within ten kilometres of a sanctuary except under the intimation to the Chief Wild Life Warden or the authorised officer.]

1. (1) Whenever it appears to the State Government that an area, whether within a sanctuary or not, is, by reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological or zoological association or importance, needed to be constituted as a National Park for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wild life therein or its environment, it may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute such area as a National Park. 1[Provided that where any part of the territorial waters is proposed to be included in such National Park, the provisions of section 26A shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to the declaration of a National Park as they apply in relation to the declaration of a sanctuary.]
2. (2) The notification referred to in sub-section (1) shall define the limits of the area which is intended to be declared as a National Park.
3. (3) Where any area is intended to be declared as a National Park, the provisions of sections 2[19 to 26A (both inclusive except cause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 24)] shall, as far as may, be, apply to the investigation and determination of claims, and extinguishment of rights, in relation to any land in such area as they apply to the said matters in relation to any land in a sanctuary. 3[(3A) When the State Government declares its intention under sub-section (1) to constitute any area as a National Park, the provisions of sections 27 to 33A (both inclusive), shall come into effect forthwith, until the publication of the notification declaring such National Park under sub-section (4). (3B) Till such time as the rights of the affected persons are finally settled under sections 19 to 26A [both inclusive except clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 24], the State Government shall make alternative arrangements required for making available fuel, fodder and other forest produce to the persons affected, in terms of their rights as per the Government records.]
4. (4) When the following events have occurred, namely,--
   • (a) the period for preferring claims has elapsed, and all claims, if any, made in relation to any land in an area intended to be declared as a National Park, have been disposed of by the State Government, and
   • (b) all rights in respect of lands proposed to be included in the National Park have become vested in the State Government, the State Government shall publish a notification specifying the limits of the area which shall be comprised within the National Park and declare that the said area shall be a National Park on and from such date as may be specified in the notification. 4[(5) No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park by the State Government shall be made except on a recommendation of the National Board.
5. (6) No person shall destroy, exploit or remove any Wild Life including forest produce from a National Park or destroy or damage or divert the habitat of any wild animal by any act whatsoever or divert, stop or enhance the flow of water into or outside the National Park, except under and in accordance with a permit granted by the Chief Wild Life Warden, and no such permit shall be granted unless the State Government being satisfied in consultation with the National Board that such removal of wild life from the National Park or the change in the flow of water into or outside the National Park is necessary for the improvement and better management of wild life therein, authorises the issue of such permit: Provided that where the forest produce is removed from a National Park, the same may be used for meeting the personal bona fide needs of the people living in and around the National Park and shall not be used for any commercial purpose.]
6. (7) No grazing of any 5[live-stock] shall be permitted in a National Park and no 5[live-stock] shall be allowed to enter therein except where such 5[live-stock] is used as a vehicle by a person authorised to enter such National Park.
7. (8) The provisions of sections 27 and 28, sections 30 to 32 (both inclusive), and clauses (a), (b) and (c) of 6[section 33, section 33A] shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to a National Park as they apply in relation to a sanctuary. 7[Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, in case of an area, whether within a sanctuary or not, where the rights have been extinguished and the land has become vested in the State Government under any Act or otherwise, such area may be notified by it, by a notification, as a National Park and the proceedings under sections 19 to 26 (both inclusive) and the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) of this section shall not apply.] 8***

[Declaration of game reserve.]---Omitted by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991 (44 of 1991), s. 24 (w.e.f. 2-10-1991).

1[36A. Declaration and management of a conservation reserve.--(1) The State Government may, after having consultations with the local communities, declare any area owned by the Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and sanctuaries and those areas which link one protected area with another, as a conservation reserve for protecting landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat: Provided that where the conservation reserve includes any land owned by the Central Government, its prior concurrence shall be obtained before making such declaration.

1. (2) The provisions of sub-section (2) of section 18, sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of section 27, sections 30, 32 and clauses (b) and (c) of section 33 shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to a conservation reserve as they apply in relation to a sanctuary.]

1[36B. Conservation reserve management committee.--(1) The State Government shall constitute a conservation reserve management committee to advise the Chief Wild Life Warden to conserve, manage and maintain the conservation reserve.

1. (2) The committee shall consist of a representative of the forest or Wild Life Department, who shall be the Member-Secretary of the Committee, one representative of each Village Panchayat in whose jurisdiction the reserve is located, three representatives of non-governmental organisations working in the field of wild life conservation and one representative each from the Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
2. (3) The Committee shall regulate its own procedure including the quorum.]

1[36C. Declaration and management of community reserve.-- (1) The State Government may, where the community or an individual has volunteered to conserve wild life and its habitat, declare any private or community land not comprised within a National Park, sanctuary or a conservation reserve, as a community reserve, for protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices.

1. (2) The provisions of sub-section (2) of section 18, sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of section 27, sections 30, 32 and clauses (b) and (c) of section 33 shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to a community reserve as they apply in relation to a sanctuary.
2. (3) After the issue of notification under sub-section (1), no change in the land use pattern shall be made within the community reserve, except in accordance with a resolution passed by the management committee and approval of the same by the State Government.]

1[36D. Community reserve management committee.-- (1) The State Government shall constitute a Community Reserve management committee, which shall be the authority responsible for conserving, maintaining and managing the community reserve.

1. (2) The committee shall consist of 2[not less than five representatives] nominated by the Village Panchayat or where such Panchayat does not exist by the members of the Gram Sabha and one representative of the State Forests or Wild Life Department under whose jurisdiction the community reserve is located. 3[(2A) Where a community reserve is declared on private land under sub-section (1) of section 36C, the community reserve management committee shall consist of the owner of the land, a representative of the State Forests or Wild Life Department under whose jurisdiction the community reserve is located and also the representative of the Panchayat concerned or the tribal community, as the case may be.]
2. (3) The committee shall be the competent authority to prepare and implement the management plan for the community reserve and to take steps to ensure the protection of wild life and its habitat in the reserve.
3. (4) The committee shall elect a Chairman who shall also be the Honorary Wild Life Warden on the community reserve.
4. (5) The committee shall regulate its own procedure including the quorum.]

[Declaration of closed area.]---Omitted by the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 (16 of 2003), s. 21(w.e.f. 1-4-2003).

38. Power of Central Government to declare areas as sanctuaries or National Parks 1[or conservation reserves].(1) Where the State Government leases or otherwise transfers any area under its control, not being an area within a sanctuary, to the Central Government, the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in section 18 are fulfilled in relation to the area so transferred to it, declare such area, by notification, to be a sanctuary and the provisions of 2[sections 18 to 35] (both inclusive), 54 and 55 shall apply in relation to such sanctuary as they apply in relation to a sanctuary declared by the State Government.

1. (2) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in section 35 are fulfilled in relation to any area referred to in section (1), whether or not such area has been declared, to be a sub sanctuary by the Central Government or the State Government, declare such area, by notification, to be a National Park and the provisions of sections 35, 54 and 55 shall apply in relation to such National Park as they apply in relation to a National Park declared by the State Government. 3[(2A) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in sub-section (1) of section 36A are fulfilled in relation to any area referred to in sub-section (1), declare such area, by notification, to be a conservation reserve and the provisions of sections 36A and 36B shall apply in relation to such conservation reserve as they apply in relation to a conservation reserve declared by the State Government.]
2. (3) In relation to a sanctuary or National Park 1[or conservation reserve] declared by the Central Government, the powers and duties of the Chief Wild Life Warden under the sections referred to in 4[sub-sections (1), (2) and (2A)], shall be exercised and discharged by the Director or by such other officer as may be authorised by the Director in this behalf and references, in the sections aforesaid, to the State Government shall be construed as references to the Central Government and reference therein to the Legislature of the State shall be construed as a reference to Parliament.