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The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Act ID: 1972
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
"Provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants."
Table of Contents
136 Sections
Ch. 1
PRELIMINARY
S.1
Short title, extent and commencement.
S.2
Definitions.
S.18
Declaration of sanctuary
S.19
Collector to determine rights
S.20
Bar of accrual of rights
S.21
Proclamation by Collector
S.22
Inquiry by Collector
S.23
Powers of Collector
S.24
Acquisition of rights
S.25
Acquisition proceedings
S.26
Delegation of Collector's powers
S.27
Restriction on entry in sanctuary
S.28
Grant of permit
S.29
Destruction, etc., in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit
S.30
Causing fire prohibited
S.31
Prohibition of entry into sanctuary with weapon
S.32
Ban on use of injurious substances
S.33
Control of sanctuaries
S.34
Registration of certain persons in possession of arms
S.35
Declaration of National Parks
S.36
[Omitted]
S.37
[Omitted]
S.38
Power of Central Government to declare areas as conservation reserves and community reserves
Ch. 2
AUTHORITIES TO BE APPOINTED OR CONSTITUTES UNDER THE ACT
S.3
Appointment of Director and other officers.
S.4
Appointment of Life Warden and other officers.
S.5
Power to delegate.
S.5A
Constitution of the National Board for Wild Life.
S.5B
Standing Committee of the National Board.
S.5C
Functions of the National Board.
S.6
Constitution of State Board for Wild Life.
S.7
Procedure to be followed by the Board
S.8
Duties of State Board for Wild Life.
Ch. 3
HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS
S.9
Prohibition of hunting.
S.10
Omitted..
S.11
Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases.
S.12
Grant of permit for special purposes.
S.13
Omitted..
S.14
Omitted..
S.15
Omitted..
S.16
Omitted..
S.17
Omitted..
Ch. 4
PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS
S.17A
Prohibition of picking, uprooting, etc. of specified plant.
S.17B
Grants of permit for special purposes.
S.17C
Cultivation of specified plants without licence prohibited.
S.17D
Dealing in specified plants without licence prohibited.
S.17E
Declaration of stock.
S.17F
Possession, etc., of plants by licensee
S.17G
Purchase, etc., of specified plants.
S.17H
Plants to be Government property.
Ch. 5
CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY AND RECOGNITION OF ZOOS
S.38A
Constitution of Central Zoo Authority
S.38B
Term of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and members, etc.
S.38C
Functions of the Authority
S.38D
Procedure to be regulated by the Authority.
S.38E
Grants and loans to Authority and Constitution of Fund.
S.38F
Annual report.
S.38G
Annual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament.
S.38H
Recognition of zoos.
S.38I
Acquisition of animals by a zoo.
S.38J
Prohibition of teasing, etc., in a zoo.
Ch. 6
NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
S.38K
Definitions
S.38L
Constitution of National Tiger Conservation Authority.
S.38M
Term of office and conditions of service of members.
S.38N
Officers and employees of Tiger Conservation Authority.
S.38O
Powers and functions of Tiger Conservation Authority.
S.38P
Procedure to be regulated by Tiger Conservation Authority.
S.38Q
Grants and loans to Tiger Conservation Authority and Constitution of Fund.
S.38R
Accounts and audit of Tiger Conservation Authority.
S.38S
Annual report of Tiger Conservation Authority.
S.38T
Annual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament.
S.38U
Constitution of Steering Committee.
S.38V
Tiger Conservation Plan.
S.38W
Alteration and de-notification of tiger reserves.
S.38X
Establishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation.
Ch. 7
TIGER AND OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES CRIME CONTROL BUREAU
S.38Y
Constitution of Wild Life Crime Control Bureau.
S.38Z
Powers and functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Ch. 8
TRADE OR COMMERCE IN WILD ANIMALS, ANIMAL ARTICLES AND TROPHIES
S.39
Wild animals, etc., to be Government property.
S.40
Declarations
S.40A
Immunity in certain cases.
S.41
Inquiry and preparation of inventories.
S.42
Certificate of ownership.
S.43
Regulation of transfer of animal, etc.
S.44
Dealings in trophy and animal articles without licence prohibited.
S.45
Suspension or cancellation of licences.
S.46
Purchase.
S.47
Maintenance of records.
S.48
Purchase of animals, etc., by licensee.
S.48A
Restriction on transportation of wild life.
S.49
Purchase of captive animal, etc., by a person other than a licensee.
Ch. 9
PROHIBITION OF TRADE OR COMMERCE IN TROPHIES, ANIMAL ARTICLES, ETC., DERIVED FROM CERTAIN ANIMALS
S.49A
Definitions.
S.49B
Prohibition of dealings in trophies, animal articles, etc., derived from scheduled animals.
S.49C
Declaration by dealers.
Ch. 10
PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF OFFENCES
S.50
Power of entry, search, arrest and detention.
S.51
Penalties.
S.51A
Certain conditions to apply while granting bail.
S.52
Attempts and abetment.
S.53
Punishment for wrongful seizure.
S.54
Power to compound offences.
S.55
Cognizance of offences.
S.56
Operation of other laws not barred.
S.57
Presumption to be made in certain cases.
S.58
Offences by Companies.
Ch. 11
FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL HUNTING AND TRADE
S.58A
Application.
S.58B
Definitions.
S.58C
Prohibition of holding illegally acquired property.
S.58D
Competent authority.
S.58E
Identifying illegally acquired property.
S.58F
Seizure or freezing of illegally acquired property.
S.58G
Management of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter.
S.58H
Notice of forfeiture of property.
S.58I
Forfeiture of property in certain cases
S.58J
Burden of proof.
S.58K
Fine in lieu of forfeiture.
S.58L
Procedure in relation to certain trust properties.
S.58M
Certain transfer to be null and void.
S.58N
Constitution of Applellate Tribunal.
S.58O
Appeals.
S.58P
Notice or order not to be invalid for error in description.
S.58Q
Bar of Jurisdiction.
S.58R
Competent Authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court.
S.58S
Information to competent authority.
S.58T
Certain officers to assist Administrator, competent authority and Appellate Tribunal.
S.58U
Power to take possession.
S.58V
Rectification of mistakes.
S.58W
Findings under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Chapter.
S.58X
Service of notices and orders.
S.58Y
Punishment for acquiring property in relating to which proceeings have been taken under this Chapter.
Ch. 12
MISCELLANEOUS
S.59
Officers to be public servants.
S.60
Protection of action taken in good faith.
S.60A
Reward to persons.
S.60B
Reward by State Government.
S.61
Power to alter entries in Schedules
S.62
Declaration of certain wild animals to be vermin.
S.63
Power of Central Government to make rules
S.64
Power of State Government to make rules.
S.65
Rights of Scheduled Tribes to be protected.
S.66
Repeal and savings.