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The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Central

An Act to provide for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.

Act number
53 of 1972
Ministry
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Enacted
9 Sep 1972

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

166 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Section 2Definitions.
  3. Section 3Appointment of Director and other officers.
  4. Section 4Appointment of Life Warden and other officers.
  5. Section 5Power to delegate.
  6. Section 5AConstitution of the National Board for Wild Life.
  7. Section 5BStanding Committee of the National Board.
  8. Section 5CFunctions of the National Board.
  9. Section 6Constitution of State Board for Wild Life.
  10. Section 6AStanding Committee of Board.
  11. Section 7Procedure to be followed by the Board
  12. Section 8Duties of State Board for Wild Life.
  13. Section 9Prohibition of hunting.
  14. Section 10Omitted..
  15. Section 11Hunting of wild animals to be permitted in certain cases.
  16. Section 12Grant of permit for special purposes.
  17. Section 13Omitted..
  18. Section 14Omitted..
  19. Section 15Omitted..
  20. Section 16Omitted..
  21. Section 17Omitted..
  22. Section 17AProhibition of picking, uprooting, etc. of specified plant.
  23. Section 17BGrants of permit for special purposes.
  24. Section 17CCultivation of specified plants without licence prohibited.
  25. Section 17DDealing in specified plants without licence prohibited.
  26. Section 17EDeclaration of stock.
  27. Section 17FPossession, etc., of plants by licensee
  28. Section 17GPurchase, etc., of specified plants.
  29. Section 17HPlants to be Government property.
  30. Section 18Declaration of sanctuary.
  31. Section 18AProtection to sanctuaries
  32. Section 18BAppointment of Collectors.
  33. Section 19Collector to determine rights.
  34. Section 20Bar of accrual of rights.
  35. Section 21Proclamation by Collector.
  36. Section 22Inquiry by Collector.
  37. Section 23Powers of Collector.
  38. Section 24Acquisition of rights.
  39. Section 25Acquisition proceedings.
  40. Section 25ATime-limit for completion of acquisition proceedings.
  41. Section 26Delegation of Collector's powers.
  42. Section 26ADeclaration of area as sanctuary.
  43. Section 27Restriction on entry in sanctuary.
  44. Section 28Grant of permit.
  45. Section 29Destruction, etc., in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit.
  46. Section 30Causing fire prohibited.
  47. Section 31Prohibition of entry into sanctuary with weapon.
  48. Section 32Ban on use of injurious substances.
  49. Section 33Control of sanctuaries.
  50. Section 33AImmunisation of live-stock.
  51. Section 33BAdvisory Committee.
  52. Section 34Registration of certain persons in possession of arms.
  53. Section 35Declaration of National Parks.
  54. Section 36Omitted..
  55. Section 36ADeclaration and management of a conservation reserve.
  56. Section 36BConservation reserve management committee.
  57. Section 36CDeclaration and management of community reserve.
  58. Section 36DCommunity reserve management committee.
  59. Section 37Omitted..
  60. Section 38Power of Central Government to declare areas as sanctuaries or National Parks or conservation reserves.
  61. Section 38AConstitution of Central Zoo Authority
  62. Section 38BTerm of office and conditions of service of Chairperson and members, etc.
  63. Section 38CFunctions of the Authority
  64. Section 38DProcedure to be regulated by the Authority.
  65. Section 38EGrants and loans to Authority and Constitution of Fund.
  66. Section 38FAnnual report.
  67. Section 38GAnnual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament.
  68. Section 38HRecognition of zoos.
  69. Section 38IAcquisition of animals by a zoo.
  70. Section 38JProhibition of teasing, etc., in a zoo.
  71. Section 38KDefinitions
  72. Section 38LConstitution of National Tiger Conservation Authority.
  73. Section 38MTerm of office and conditions of service of members.
  74. Section 38NOfficers and employees of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  75. Section 38OPowers and functions of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  76. Section 38PProcedure to be regulated by Tiger Conservation Authority.
  77. Section 38QGrants and loans to Tiger Conservation Authority and Constitution of Fund.
  78. Section 38RAccounts and audit of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  79. Section 38SAnnual report of Tiger Conservation Authority.
  80. Section 38TAnnual report and audit report to be laid before Parliament.
  81. Section 38UConstitution of Steering Committee.
  82. Section 38VTiger Conservation Plan.
  83. Section 38WAlteration and de-notification of tiger reserves.
  84. Section 38XEstablishment of Tiger Conservation Foundation.
  85. Section 38XAProvisions of Chapter to be in addition to provisions relating to sanctuaries and National Park.
  86. Section 38YConstitution of Wild Life Crime Control Bureau.
  87. Section 38ZPowers and functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
  88. Section 39Wild animals, etc., to be Government property.
  89. Section 40Declarations
  90. Section 40AImmunity in certain cases.
  91. Section 41Inquiry and preparation of inventories.
  92. Section 42Certificate of ownership.
  93. Section 42ASurrender of captive animals, animal article, etc
  94. Section 43Regulation of transfer of animal, etc.
  95. Section 44Dealings in trophy and animal articles without licence prohibited.
  96. Section 45Suspension or cancellation of licences.
  97. Section 46Purchase.
  98. Section 47Maintenance of records.
  99. Section 48Purchase of animals, etc., by licensee.
  100. Section 48ARestriction on transportation of wild life.
  101. Section 49Purchase of captive animal, etc., by a person other than a licensee.
  102. Section 49ADefinitions.
  103. Section 49BProhibition of dealings in trophies, animal articles, etc., derived from scheduled animals.
  104. Section 49CDeclaration by dealers.
  105. Section 49DDefinitions.
  106. Section 49EDesignation of Management Authority
  107. Section 49FDesignation of Scientific Authority.
  108. Section 49GDirections of Central Government.
  109. Section 49HInternational trade in Scheduled specimen and restriction in respect thereof
  110. Section 49-IConditions for scheduled specimens.
  111. Section 49JConditions for import of scheduled specimens
  112. Section 49KConditions for re-export of scheduled specimens.
  113. Section 49LConditions for introfuction from sea of scheduled specimens.
  114. Section 49MPossession transfer and breeding of living scheduled animal species.
  115. Section 49NApplication for Licence by breeders of Appendix I species
  116. Section 49-OLicence of breeders of Appendix I species.
  117. Section 49PProhibition on alteration, etc.
  118. Section 49QSpecies and scheduled specimens to be Government property
  119. Section 49RApplication of provisions of Act in respect of species listed in Schedule I or II and Schedule IV.
  120. Section 50Power of entry, search, arrest and detention.
  121. Section 51Penalties.
  122. Section 51ACertain conditions to apply while granting bail.
  123. Section 52Attempts and abetment.
  124. Section 53Punishment for wrongful seizure.
  125. Section 54Power to compound offences.
  126. Section 55Cognizance of offences.
  127. Section 56Operation of other laws not barred.
  128. Section 57Presumption to be made in certain cases.
  129. Section 58Offences by Companies.
  130. Section 58AApplication.
  131. Section 58BDefinitions.
  132. Section 58CProhibition of holding illegally acquired property.
  133. Section 58DCompetent authority.
  134. Section 58EIdentifying illegally acquired property.
  135. Section 58FSeizure or freezing of illegally acquired property.
  136. Section 58GManagement of properties seized or forfeited under this Chapter.
  137. Section 58HNotice of forfeiture of property.
  138. Section 58IForfeiture of property in certain cases
  139. Section 58JBurden of proof.
  140. Section 58KFine in lieu of forfeiture.
  141. Section 58LProcedure in relation to certain trust properties.
  142. Section 58MCertain transfer to be null and void.
  143. Section 58NConstitution of Applellate Tribunal.
  144. Section 58OAppeals.
  145. Section 58PNotice or order not to be invalid for error in description.
  146. Section 58QBar of Jurisdiction.
  147. Section 58RCompetent Authority and Appellate Tribunal to have powers of civil court.
  148. Section 58SInformation to competent authority.
  149. Section 58TCertain officers to assist Administrator, competent authority and Appellate Tribunal.
  150. Section 58UPower to take possession.
  151. Section 58VRectification of mistakes.
  152. Section 58WFindings under other laws not conclusive for proceedings under this Chapter.
  153. Section 58XService of notices and orders.
  154. Section 58YPunishment for acquiring property in relating to which proceeings have been taken under this Chapter.
  155. Section 59Officers to be public servants.
  156. Section 60Protection of action taken in good faith.
  157. Section 60AReward to persons.
  158. Section 60BReward by State Government.
  159. Section 61Power to alter entries in Schedules
  160. Section 62Declaration of certain wild animals to be vermin.
  161. Section 62ARegulation or prohibition of import, etc., of invasive alien species.
  162. Section 62BPower to issue directions.
  163. Section 63Power of Central Government to make rules
  164. Section 64Power of State Government to make rules.
  165. Section 65Rights of Scheduled Tribes to be protected.
  166. Section 66Repeal and savings.