Environment
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Act 53 of 1972 · 167 sections
Practise questions on Environmental Law
Title, date and preamble
[9th September, 1972.]
[An Act to provide for the [conservation, protection and management of wild life] and for matters
connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and
environmental security of the country.]
* * * * *
Contents
CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY
CHAPTER II AUTHORITIES TO BE APPOINTED OR CONSTITUTED UNDER THE ACT
- 3.Appointment of Director and other officers
- 4.Appointment of Chief Wild Life Warden and other officers
- 5.Power to delegate
- 5A.Constitution of the National Board for Wild Life
- 5B.Standing Committee of the National Board
- 5C.Functions of the National Board
- 6.Constitution of State Board for Wild Life
- 6A.Standing Committee of Board
- 7.Procedure to be followed by the Board
- 8.Duties of [State Board for Wild Life]
CHAPTER III HUNTING OF WILD ANIMALS
- 9.Prohibition of hunting
- 10.Maintenance of records of wild animals killed or captured
- 11.Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases
- 12.Grant of permit for special purposes
- 13.Suspension or cancellation of licence
- 14.Appeals
- 15.Hunting of young and female of wild animals
- 16.Declaration of closed time
- 17.Restrictions on hunting
CHAPTER IIIA PROTECTION OF SPECIFIED PLANTS
- 17A.Prohibition of picking, uprooting, etc., of specified plant
- 17B.Grants of permit for special purposes
- 17C.Cultivation of specified plants without licence prohibited
- 17D.Dealing in specified plants without licence prohibited
- 17E.Declaration of stock
- 17F.Possession, etc., of plants by licensee
- 17G.Purchase, etc., of specified plants
- 17H.Plants to be Government property
CHAPTER IV PROTECTED AREAS
Sanctuaries
- 18.Declaration of sanctuary
- 18A.Protection to sanctuaries
- 18B.Appointment of Collectors
- 19.Collector to determine rights
- 20.Bar of accrual of rights
- 21.Proclamation by Collector
- 22.Inquiry by Collector
- 23.Powers of Collector
- 24.Acquisition of rights
- 25.Acquisition proceedings
- 25A.Time-limit for completion of acquisition proceedings
- 26.Delegation of Collector’s powers
- 26A.Declaration of area as sanctuary
- 27.Restriction on entry in sanctuary
- 28.Grant of permit
- 29.Destruction, etc., in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit
- 30.Causing fire prohibited
- 31.Prohibition of entry into sanctuary with weapon
- 32.Ban on use of injurious substances
- 33.Control of sanctuaries
- 33A.Immunisation of live-stock
- 33B.Advisory Committee
- 34.Registration of certain persons in possession of arms
- 34A.Power to remove encroachment
Natioanl Parks
Closed Area
Sanctuaries or National Parks declared by Central Government
CHAPTER IVA CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY AND RECOGNITION OF ZOOS
- 38A.Constitution of Central Zoo Authority
- 38B.Term of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and members, etc
- 38C.Functions of the Authority
- 38D.Procedure to be regulated by the Authority
- 38E.Grants and loans to Authority and Constitution of Fund
- 38F.Annual report
- 38G.Annual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament
- 38H.Recognition of zoos
- 38I.Acquisition of animals by a zoo
- 38J.Prohibition of teasing, etc., in a zoo
CHAPTER IV B NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
- 38K.Definitions
- 38L.Constitution of National Tiger Conservation Authority
- 38M.Term of office and conditions of service of members
- 38N.Officers and employees of Tiger Conservation Authority
- 38O.Powers and functions of Tiger Conservation Authority
- 38P.Procedure to be regulated by Tiger Conservation Authority
- 38Q.Grants and loans to Tiger Conservation Authority and Constitution of Fund
- 38R.Accounts and audit of Tiger Conservation Authority
- 38S.Annual report of Tiger Conservation Authority
- 38T.Annual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament
- 38U.Constitution of Steering Committee
- 38V.Tiger Conservation Plan
- 38W.Alteration and de-notification of tiger reserves
- 38X.Establishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation
- 38XA.Provisions of Chapter to be in addition to provisions relating to sanctuaries and National Parks
CHAPTER IV C WILD LIFE CRIME CONTROL BUREAU
CHAPTER V TRADE OR COMMERCE IN WILD ANIMALS, ANIMAL ARTICLES AND TROPHIES
- 39.Wild animals, etc., to be Government property
- 40.Declarations
- 40A.Immunity in certain cases
- 41.Inquiry and preparation of inventories
- 42.Certificate of ownership
- 42A.Surrender of captive animals, animal article, etc
- 43.Regulation of transfer of animal, etc
- 44.Dealings in trophy and animal articles without licence prohibited
- 45.Suspension or cancellation of licences
- 46.Appeal
- 47.Maintenance of records
- 48.Purchase of animal, etc., by licensee
- 48A.Restriction on transportation of wild life
- 49.Purchase of captive animal, etc., by a person other than a licensee
CHAPTER VA PROHIBITION OF TRADE OR COMMERCE IN TROPHIES, ANIMAL ARTICLES, ETC., DERIVED FROM CERTAIN ANIMALS
CHAPTER VB REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA AS PER CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA
- 49D.Definitions
- 49E.Designation of Management Authority
- 49F.Designation of Scientific Authority
- 49G.Directions of Central Government
- 49H.International trade in scheduled specimen and restriction in respect thereof
- 49I.Conditions for export of scheduled specimens
- 49J.Conditions for import of scheduled specimens
- 49K.Conditions for re-export of scheduled specimens
- 49L.Conditions for introduction from sea of scheduled specimens
- 49M.Possession, transfer and breeding of living scheduled animal species
- 49N.Application for Licence by breeders of Appendix I species
- 49O.Licence of breeders of Appendix I species
- 49P.Prohibition on alteration, etc
- 49Q.Species and scheduled specimens to be Government property
- 49R.Application of provisions of Act in respect of species listed in Schedule I or II and Schedule IV
CHAPTER VI PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF OFFENCES
- 50.Power of entry, search, arrest and detention
- 51.Penalties
- 51A.Certain conditions to apply while granting bail
- 52.Attempts and abetment
- 53.Punishment for wrongful seizure
- 54.Power to compound offence
- 55.Cognizance of offences
- 56.Operation of other laws not barred
- 57.Presumption to be made in certain cases
- 58.Offences by Companies
CHAPTER VIA FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL HUNTING AND TRADE
- 58A.Application
- 58B.Definitions
- 58C.Prohibition of holding illegally acquired property
- 58D.Competent authority
- 58E.Identifying illegally acquired property
- 58F.Seizure or freezing of illegally acquired property
- 58G.Management of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter
- 58H.Notice of forfeiture of property
- 58I.Forfeiture of property in certain cases
- 58J.Burden of proof
- 58K.Fine in lieu of forfeiture
- 58L.Procedure in relation to certain trust properties
- 58M.Certain transfers to be null and void
- 58N.Constitution of Appellate Tribunal
- 58O.Appeals
- 58P.Notice or order not to be invalid for error in description
- 58Q.Bar of jurisdiction
- 58R.Competent Authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court
- 58S.Information to competent authority
- 58T.Certain officers to assist Administrator, competent authority and Appellate Tribunal
- 58U.Power to take possession
- 58V.Rectification of mistakes
- 58W.Findings under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Chapter
- 58X.Service of notices and orders
- 58Y.Punishment for acquiring property in relation to which proceedings have been taken under this Chapter
CHAPTER VII MISCELLANEOUS
- 59.Officers to be public servants
- 60.Protection of action taken in good faith
- 60A.Reward to persons
- 60B.Reward by State Government
- 61.Power to alter entries in Schedules
- 62.Declaration of certain wild animals to be vermin
- 62A.Regulation or prohibition of import, etc., of invasive alien species
- 62B.Power to issue directions
- 63.Power of Central Government to make rules
- 64.Power of State Government to make rules
- 65.Rights of Scheduled Tribes to be protected
- 66.Repeal and savings
Schedules and appendices
Schedules are not yet reproduced here. Read them in the official file; each link opens the page where the Schedule begins.