Bill in RS for strict wildlife laws
The government on Monday introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to pave way for stricter enforcement of laws to protect wildlife, including imprisonment up to seven years and conferring of arrest powers on a wildlife authority.
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2013, introduced by environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan, seeks to further amend the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The bill seeks to provide the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals, management of their habitat and also for the regulation and control of trade in the products derived from them. It confers power of entry, search, arrest and detention on any officer authorised by the management authority or any customs officer not below the rank of an inspector or any officer of the coast guard not below the rank of an assistant commandant.
The proposed law deals with the serious offences of wildlife crime such as the offence related to any animal specified in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II or the meat of such animal or animal article, trophy, or uncured trophy derived from such animal.
If a crime of this sort is committed, the proposed law seeks to punish the culprits with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, but may extend to seven years and also with fine which shall not be less than `1 lakh but may extend to `25 lakh. In the case of a second or subsequent offence of the same nature, the terms of imprisonment shall not be less than seven years and also with fine which shall not be less than `5 lakh but may extend to `50 lakh.
It proposes to insert new definitions in view of the amendments proposed in the act. It provides for prohibition on use of animal traps except under certain circumstances and provide for protection of hunting rights of the Scheduled Tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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