THE
(Act II of 1974)
C O N T E N T S
Section Heading
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Appointment of officers.
4. Powers of an honorary officer.
5. Constitution of the Board.
6. Functioning of the Board.
7. Fund.
8. Returns and statements.
9. Restriction of hunting.
10. Prohibition to employ hawks and dogs
without special licence.
11. Animals found dead or killed or caught unlawfully.
12. Certificate of lawful possession.
13. Restriction on transfer of animals, trophies or meat.
14. Restriction on import and export of animals, trophies or meat.
15. Restriction on dealings in animals, trophies or meat.
16. [Repealed]
16-A. Wildlife breeding farm.
17. [Repealed]
18. [Repealed]
18-A. Wildlife park, zoological garden or zoo and safari park.
19. [Repealed]
20. Private game reserve, wildlife park and safari park.
21. Penalties.
22. Abetment of an offence.
23. Killing or capturing in self-defence.
24. Onus of proof.
25. Power to search without warrant.
26. Power to seizure.
27. Procedure as to perishable property
seized under section 26.
28. Duty to produce permit on demand made by any officer or person authorised in this behalf.
29. Duty of coupe purchaser, chowkidar,
village watchman, etc.
30. Procedure when offender not known or cannot be found.
31. Power to arrest.
32. Power to release on bond a person arrested.
33. Power to prevent commission of offence.
34. Persons who may lodge complaints.
35. Court which is competent to take cognizance of offences.
36. Power to try offences summarily.
37. Prosecution of offences under any other law.
38. Power to compound offence.
39. Government may invest officer with certain powers.
40. Officers, etc. to be public servants.
41. Protection of action taken under this Act.
42. Duty of police officer.
43. Delegation of powers.
44. Power to grant exemption.
44-A. Power of sale or exchange.
45. Power to add to or exclude from Schedules.
46. Power to make rules.
47. Dissolution of the Board.
48. Repeal and validation.
49. Repeal of
Schedules
[1]THE
(Act
II of 1974)
[
An Act to provide for the protection, preservation, conservation and
management of wildlife in the Province of the
Preamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the protection,
preservation, conservation and management of wildlife in the Province of the
It is hereby enacted as follows:-
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 1974.
(2) It
extends to the whole of the Province of the
(3) It shall come into force at once and shall be
deemed to have taken effect on and from the day the Punjab Ordinances Temporary
Enactment Act, 1973 (Punjab Act No. VI of 1973), in so far as it enacted the
provisions of the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) Ordinance, 1972 (Ordinance No. XXI of 1972), expired.
(4) Nothing hereinafter provided shall be deemed
to authorise any person to hunt in the reserved or
protected forests as constituted and declared under the provisions of the
Forest Act, 1927 (Act XVI of 1927).
2. Definitions.– In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say–
(a) “Board” means the Punjab Wildlife Management Board constituted under section 5;
(b) “certificate”, “licence”,
“special licence”, “permit” or “special permit” means
respectively a certificate, a licence, a special licence, a permit or a special permit granted or issued
under this Act;
[2][(bb) “circus” means a collection of wild animal declared as such under section 20;]
(c) “dealer”, when used in relation to wild animals, trophies or meat,
shall mean any person who, in the course of trade or business carried on by him
whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person,–
(i) sells, purchases or barters any wild animal,
its meat or trophy;
(ii) cuts, carves, polishes, preserves, cleans, mounts or otherwise prepares any such animal, trophy or meat, or manufactures any article therefrom;
[3][(cc) “endemic” means wildlife species native to
[4][(ccc) “exotic” means wildlife species not native
to
[5][(d) “game animal” means a wild animal specified in the First or the Fourth Schedule;]
(e) “game reserve” means any area declared as such under section 18;
(f) “Government”
means the Government of the
(g) “hunt” means any act directed immediately to
the killing or capturing of a wild animal and shall include taking the nest or
egg of a wild animal;
(h) “meat” means the fat, blood, flesh or any eatable part of wild animal, whether fresh or preserved;
(i) “national park” means an area declared as such under section 17;
(j) “offence” means an offence punishable under this Act or any rule made thereunder;
[6][(k) “officer” means the Chief Wildlife Warden, Director General Wildlife and Parks, Director Wildlife and Parks, Deputy Director Wildlife, Assistant Director Wildlife, District Wildlife Officer, Wildlife Supervisor, Wildlife Inspector, Head Wildlife Watcher and Wildlife Watcher or any other officer appointed to perform any function under this Act;]
(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
(m) “private game reserve” means an area declared as such under section 20;
[7][(mm) “private wildlife breeding farm” means an area declared as such under section 20;]
[8] [(mmm) “private wildlife park” means an area declared as such under section 20;]
(n) “Protected animal” means a wild animal specified in the Third Schedule;
(o) “rules” means rules made under this Act;
(p) “Schedule” means Schedule appended to this Act;
(q) “section” means a section of this Act;
(r) “trophy” means a dead body or any horn, antler, tooth, tusk, bone, claw, hoof, skin, hair, feather, egg-shell or other durable part of game animal or protected animal whether or not included in a manufactured or processed articles;
[9][(s) “wild animal” means a wild bird or animal specified in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules;]
(t) “wildlife” includes organic resources, animals, birds, reptiles, vegetation, soil and water;
[10][(tt) “wildlife breeding farm” means an area declared as such under section 16-A;]
[11][(ttt) “wildlife park” means an area declared as such under
section 18-A;]
[12][(tttt) “safari park” means an area declared as such under section 18-A;]
(u) “wildlife sanctuary” means the area declared as such under section 16; [13][* * *]
(v) “unprotected animals” means a wild bird or wild animal specified in the Fourth Schedule [14][; and]
[15][(w) “zoological garden or zoo” means an area declared as such under section 18-A.]
3. Appointment of officers.– Government may determine the number
and class of officers including [16]honorary officers to be appointed under
this Act; provided that an honorary officer shall hold office for such period
as may be specified unless the appointment is revoked earlier by Government.
4. Powers of an honorary officer.– An honorary officer appointed under section 3 shall have such powers of an officer as may be prescribed.
5. Constitution of the Board.– (1) Government shall establish a Board to be called the Punjab Wildlife Management Board.
(2) The Board shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire and hold property and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
(3) The Board shall consist of–
(a) a Chairman;
(b) a Vice-Chairman; and
(c) such number of members as may be appointed by Government.
(4) Chief
Minister of the
[18][(5) Minister-in-Charge of the [19][Punjab Wildlife] Department shall be the ex-officio Vice Chairman of the Board.]
(6) A member shall, unless he sooner resigns or is removed by Government, hold office for such term as may be prescribed.
[20][(7) Secretary to Government, Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries and Tourism Department shall be the ex-officio Secretary of the Board.]
(8) The meetings of the Board shall be held in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.
[21][6. Functioning of the Board.– The Board shall act in an advisory capacity and its functions shall be–
(a) to advise about the formulation of policy
regarding conservation and development of wildlife and game management in the Province;
(b) to supervise the progress of the development activities in the field of wildlife protection, preservation, conservation, and management and to scrutinize the annual progress report submitted in this behalf; and
(c) to undertake such other functions as may be prescribed.]
7. Fund.– (1) There shall be a fund to be known as “Board Fund” vested in the Board. The Fund shall be raised and administered in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) All moneys at the credit of the Board shall be
kept in such custody as may be prescribed.
(3) The Board shall maintain complete and accurate books of accounts in such form as may be prescribed.
(4) The accounts of the Board shall be audited in such manner as may be prescribed.
(5) Copies of the audit report shall be sent to the Board.
(6) The Board shall take necessary steps for rectification of an audit objection.
8. Returns and statements.– Government may require the Board to furnish Government with any document, return, statement, estimate, information or report regarding any matter under the control of the Board and the Secretary of the Board shall comply with every such requisition.
9. Restriction of hunting.– No person shall:-
[22][(i) hunt
any wild animal by means of a set gun, drop spear, deadfall, gun trap,
explosive, projectile, bomb, grenade, baited hook, net, snare or any other
trap, an automatic or a service weapon or
ammunition used by Armed Forces
of Pakistan, Police Force or any
other force, or by means of [23][PCP air guns, CO2 air guns
or silenced air guns,] any
drug or chemical substance, likely to anesthetize, paralyze, stupefy or render
incapable any wild animal whether partly or totally through a projectile or
otherwise;]
(ii) hunt any protected animal;
(iii) hunt any game animal except under a permit and in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules:
Provided that no person shall hunt any game animal other than bird or hare with a shot gun or with non-magnum rifle of 22 calibre or less;
(iv) use or have in his possession any net, snare, bhagwa, poison or like injurious
substance for the purpose of hunting a game animal;
(v) use vehicle of any type to pursue any game animal or to drive or stampede game animal for any purpose whatsoever;
(vi) shoot any game animal except wild boar and vermin from any
conveyance or from within two hundred yards of the conveyance;
(vii) hunt with the help of live decoys or call birds except quail;
(viii) construct or use, for the purpose of hunting any wild animal, any
pitfall, game pit, trench or similar excavation, any fence or enclosure, or use
bhagwa or
any other similar contrivance except duck blinds:
Provided that it shall not be an offence to use–
(a) a motor vehicle or aircraft to drive any wild animal away from an aerodrome or airstrip when such action is necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft using that aerodrome;
(b) any one or more of the aforesaid prohibited methods if the officer authorised in this behalf grants a licence with permission to employ such method; or
(c) to hunt any unprotected animal;
(ix) hunt except ducks, wild boars and vermin after sunset and before sunrise; and
(x) hunt by hiding within two hundred yards of a water hole or salt
licks.
10. Prohibition to employ hawks and dogs without special licence.– No person shall use hawks for hawking or dogs for coursing the game animals under a licence issued for the purpose under the Act.
11. Animals found dead or
killed or caught unlawfully.– Any [24][wild] animal which is found dead
or dying or which has been killed or caught otherwise than in accordance with
the provisions of this Act and any meat or trophy thereof shall be the property
of [25][Government].
12. Certificate of lawful possession.– (1) No person shall be in possession of any wild animal unless he be in
possession of a certificate of lawful possession granted in respect thereof by
the officer authorised in this behalf:
Provided
that any person importing any wild animal, trophy or meat of a wild animal of a
kind specified in the Second Schedule in accordance with the provisions of this
Act or acquiring such animal, trophy or meat in accordance with the terms of a
permit issued under this Act shall apply to the authorised
officer for such certificate within thirty days from the date of importing or
acquiring the animal, trophy or meat.
(2) The officer authorised
in this behalf may mark or register the animal trophy or meat in respect of
which a certificate of lawful possession is issued, in the prescribed manner,
or he may seize, pending the taking of legal action under this Act, any such
animal, trophy or meat which in his opinion has not been legally imported or
acquired.
(3) No person shall counterfeit, change or in any way interfere with any mark or registration of animal, trophy or meat for which a certificate of lawful possession has been issued or alter or in any way change a certificate of lawful possession.
13. Restriction on transfer of animals, trophies or meat.– No person shall receive by gift, purchase or otherwise any animal of a kind specified in the Second Schedule unless he receives at the same time a valid certificate of lawful possession in respect thereof.
14. Restriction on import and
export of animals, trophies or meat.– (1) No person shall import or attempt
to import into the Punjab any wild animal of endemic or exotic species, or any
trophy or meat of a kind specified in Second Schedule except under an import
permit granted under this Act and if such import be from outside Pakistan
except through a customs post of entry and subject to any law relating to
control on imports for the time being in force.
(2) No person shall export or attempt to export
out of the Punjab any [26][wild] animal, trophy or meat specified
in Second Schedule except under an export permit granted under this Act and if
such export be to any country outside Pakistan except through a customs post of exit and subject to any law relating to
control on export for the time being in force.
(3) Nothing
in this section shall apply to any [27][wild] animal, trophy or meat in transit through the
(i) is accompanied by necessary transit customs documents;
(ii) is entered through a customs post of entry or is scheduled to a customs post of exit; or
(iii) in case of road transport, is either not
unloaded from the conveyance on which it is being carried or does not remain
unloaded from such conveyance for more than ninety-six hours, or in case of
rail or air transport, it does not leave the precincts of the railway station
or airport at which it is landed or trans-shipped.
15. Restriction on dealings in animals, trophies or meat.– (1) No person shall as a profession, trade or business, buy, sell or otherwise deal in wild animals, trophies or meat thereof or process or manufacture goods or articles from such trophies or meat, unless he is in possession of a valid licence, hereinafter called a dealer’s licence, to do so, issued by an officer authorised in this behalf.
(2) The officer authorised
in this behalf may, on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, grant a
dealer’s licence to be valid for one year to any
person which shall entitle the licencee to deal in
any wild animal, trophy or meat thereof, or any class of wild animals, trophies
or meat specified in such licence. Such licence shall be renewable in such manner as may be
prescribed.
(3) For the purpose of assessment of fees, dealers
may be divided into different classes and a different fees
may be prescribed for each class.
(4) The holder of the dealer’s licence
shall maintain such register or record of his dealings in such manner as may be
prescribed, and shall produce them for inspection at any reasonable time when
called upon to do so.
[28][16. * * * * *]
[29][16-A. Wildlife breeding farm.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare any area, which is the property of the Government or over which the Government has the proprietary rights, to be a wildlife breeding farm.
(2) The following acts shall be prohibited in the
wildlife breeding farm:-
(a) hunting,
shooting, trapping, killing or capturing of a wild animal;
(b) firing or doing any other act which may disturb a wild animal or interfere with the breeding places;
(c) felling, tapping, burning or in any manner damaging, destroying, taking, collecting, removing or taking away a plant or tree or leave, fruit or seed therefrom;
(d) polluting water flowing in or through the wildlife park;
(e) any act of feeding or teasing a wild animal;
(f) damaging of any structure;
(g) any act of teasing or harassing visitors or otherwise, creating any pandemonium; and
(h) any
act in violation of any restrictions imposed by the Government:
Provided that the Government may, for such purposes as it may deem expedient, authorize the doing of the aforementioned prohibited acts except at paras (d), (e), (g), and (h).]
[30][17. * * * * *]
[31][18. * * * * *]
[32][18-A. Wildlife park, zoological garden or zoo and safari park.–(1) The Government may, by notification in the official gazette, declare an area which is the property of the Government or over which the Government has proprietary rights, to be a wildlife park to maintain wild animal in captivity and in a state as close to nature as possible, for the purpose of breeding, re-introduction, recreation and public education.
(2) The Government may, by notification in the official gazette, declare an area which is the property of the Government or over which the Government has proprietary rights, to be a zoological garden or zoo to maintain, breed locally extinct, endangered or threatened species of wild animal for re-introduction, recreation and public education.
(3) The Government may, by notification in the official gazette, declare an enclosed area which is the property of the Government or over which the Government has proprietary rights, to be a safari park in which wild animal shall be kept in the open space for viewing by public from a vehicle driven through.
(4) Wildlife park, safari
park or zoological garden or zoo shall be accessible to public for recreation,
education and research purposes, subject to such restrictions as the Government
may impose.
(5) Provision for access roads to and construction
of cafeteria, motel, laboratory, research centre and any other building in the
wildlife park, safari park or zoological garden or zoo alongwith amenities for
public may be made for the facilitation of achievement of, and the forest
vegetation therein shall be so managed and forest produce so obtained as not to
impair the objectives of the establishment of such parks or zoological garden
or zoo.
(6) The following acts shall be prohibited in the
wildlife park, safari park or zoological garden or zoo:-
(a) hunting,
shooting, trapping, killing or capturing of a wild animal;
(b) firing or doing any other act which may disturb a wild animal or interfere with the breeding place of a wild animal;
(c) felling, tapping, burning or in any manner damaging, destroying, taking, collecting, removing or taking away any plant or tree or leave, fruit or seed therefrom;
(d) polluting water flowing in or through the wildlife park, zoological garden or zoo or safari park;
(e) any act of feeding or teasing a wild animal;
(f) damaging of any structure;
(g) any act of teasing or harassing visitor or otherwise, creating any pandemonium; and
(h) any
act in violation of any restriction imposed by the Government:
Provided that the Government may for such purposes as it may deem expedient authorize the doing of any of the aforementioned prohibited act except at para (d), (e), (g) and (h).]
[33][19. * * * * *]
[34][20. Private game reserve, wildlife park and safari park.– (1) Where the Government is satisfied that–
(a) an
area of land has been dedicated by its owner or owners, for the purposes
similar to a game reserve, it may, on the application of the owner or the
owners, as the case may be, by notification in the official gazette, declare
such area to be a private game reserve;
(b) an area of land has been dedicated by its owner or owners, for the
purposes similar to a safari park, it may, on the application of the owner or
the owners, as the case may be, by notification in the official Gazette,
declare such area to be a private safari park;
(c) a collection of wild animal
has been kept over an area of land dedicated by its owner or owners, for the
purpose of breeding, sale, exchange, recreation, education and research, it
may, on the application of the owner or the owners, as the case may be, by
notification in the official gazette, declare such area to be a private wildlife park;
(d) a collection of wild animal
has been kept over an area of land dedicated by its owner or owners, for the
purpose of breeding, sale and exchange, it may, on the application of the owner
or the owners, as the case may be, by notification in the official gazette,
declare such area to be a private wildlife
breeding farm; and
(e) a collection of wild animal has been
dedicated by its owner or owners, for the purpose of exhibition, display and
performance at public places, it may, on the application of the owner or the
owners, as the case may be, by notification in the official gazette, declare
such collection to be a circus.
(2) Hunting and shooting of a wild animal by a
person other than the owner shall not be allowed in a private game reserve
except with the permission of the owner and in the prescribed manner.
(3) Hunting and shooting of wild animal shall not
be allowed in a private wildlife park, private safari park, circus and private
wildlife breeding farm.]
[35][21. Penalties.– Whoever contravenes or attempts to contravene:-
(i) any provision of sections 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,20 and 28 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two years or with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees nor more than fifteen thousand rupees or with both, alongwith confiscation of the weapon and suspension of license or permit for a period of five years;
(ii) any provision of sections 16, 16-A, 17, 18 and 18-A shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year nor more than five years or with fine which shall not be less than twenty thousand rupees nor more than thirty thousand rupees or with both, alongwith confiscation of the weapon, vehicle or any other article used in such contravention; and
(iii) any provision of this Act or any rule
for the contravention of which no specific penalty is provided shall be punished with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to ten months or with fine which may extend to ten
thousand rupees or with both.]
22. Abetment of an offence.– An abetment of any offence under this Act or the rules made thereunder shall be punishable as the offence.
23. Killing or capturing in self-defence.– (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, it shall not be an offence, if–
(a) any person kills any wild animal by any means in the immediate defence of his own life or that of any other person;
(b) the owner of livestock or his employee kills any wild animal that is doing damage to the livestock by any means within a reasonable distance or where that livestock is grazing or where it is enclosed for the night:
Provided that clause (b) shall not apply to any unlawful cultivation in a national park, wildlife sanctuary and a reserved or protected forest or any livestock unlawfully grazing or herded therein.
(2) The killing under sub-section (1) of wild animals specified in the First and Third Schedules shall be reported to the nearest office established for the purposes of this Act.
(3) The meat or trophy of any wild animal killed in self-defence shall be the property of Government and shall be disposed of as directed by the officer authorised in this behalf.
24. Onus of proof.– When in any proceedings taken under this Act or in consequence of anything done under this Act, a question arises as to whether any wild animal, trophy or meat is the property of [36][Government], such wild animal, trophy or meat shall be presumed to be the property of [37][Government] until the contrary is proved.
25. Power to search without warrant.– Any officer authorised by Government in this behalf, may search any person, premises, vessel, vehicle, animal, package, receptacle or covering so as to satisfy himself whether or not an offence under this Act has been committed:
Provided that no premises shall be searched under this section except under the authority of a warrant issued by the magistrate having jurisdiction in the area.
26. Power to seizure.– Any officer authorised by Government in this behalf, may seize any wild animal, dead or alive, together with any firearm, net, trap, snare, bow, arrow or any vehicle or vessel or anything whatsoever used or suspected to have been used in the commission of an offence under this Act.
27. Procedure as to perishable
property seized under section 26.– Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the officer authorised in this behalf may sell any property seized
under section 26 which is subject to speedy and natural decay and may, subject
to the determination of the rights thereto, deal with the proceeds in such
manner as may be prescribed.
28. Duty to produce permit on demand made by any officer or person authorised in this behalf.– Every person in possession of any wild animal specified in the First and Third Schedule shall produce his certificate of lawful possession on demand made by any officer authorised by Government in this behalf.
29. Duty of coupe purchaser, chowkidar, village watchman, etc.– Every coupe purchaser of forest produce, lambardar, canal patwari, Public Works Department, daroga, chowkidar, dafadar, village watchman, abdar, zilladar, revenue patwari, qanungo and tehsildar shall be bound, in the absence of reasonable excuse to give to any officer authorised in this behalf by Government, information in respect of any snaring, trapping, netting, unauthorised killing, or any other offence under this Act committed within the limits of his jurisdiction, as soon as the commission of such offence comes to his knowledge.
30. Procedure when offender not known or cannot be found.– When the offender is not known or cannot be found any officer authorised in this behalf may, if he finds that an offence has been committed, confiscate the property used in the commission of the offence.
31. Power to arrest.– (1) Any officer authorised in this behalf may, without orders from a magistrate and without a warrant, arrest any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been concerned in any offence under this Act.
(2) Every officer making an arrest under this
section shall, without delay and subject to the provisions of this Act as to
release on bond, take or send the person arrested before the magistrate having
jurisdiction in the case or before the officer-in-charge of the nearest police
station.
32. Power
to release on bond a person arrested.– Any officer
not below the rank of the Game Inspector or of an equivalent rank who has
arrested any person under section 31 may release such person on his executing a
bond to appear, if and when so required, before the magistrate having
jurisdiction in the case or before the officer-in-charge of the nearest police
station.
33. Power to prevent commission
of offence.– Every officer or any other person authorised by Government in this behalf shall be competent
to prevent by all lawful means the commission of any offence under this Act.
34. Persons who may lodge complaints.– Cognizance of any offence under this Act shall not be taken by any
court except on the complaint of the officer or any person authorised
by Government in this behalf.
35. Court which is competent to take cognizance of offences.– No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the First Class shall take cognizance of and try an offence under this Act.
[38][36. Power to
try offences summarily.– Any Magistrate of the First
Class, specially empowered in this behalf by the Government, may try any
offence punishable under this Act in a summary manner, as provided in sections
262 to 265 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898:
Provided that sub section (2) of section 262 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 shall not apply.]
37. Prosecution of offences
under any other law.– Nothing contained in this Act shall be
deemed to prevent any person from being prosecuted under any other law for any
act of commission which constitutes an offence under this Act or from being
liable under any other law to any higher punishment or penalty than that
provided by this Act.
38. Power to compound offence.– (1) Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, empower an officer–
(a) to
accept from any person against whom reasonable suspicion exists that he has
committed any offence under this Act, a sum of money by way of compensation for
such offence;
(b) when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof, as [39][may be prescribed].
(2) On the payment of compensation, such sum of money, or such value of property under sub-section (1) or both, as the case may be, the suspected person if in custody, shall be discharged and the property, if any, seized shall be released and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property.
[40][(3) The sum of money accepted as compensation under clause (a) of sub section (1) shall, in no case exceed the sum of ten thousand rupees in first instance and be not less than ten thousand in second instance.]
(4) No officer shall have power to compound a [41][third] and subsequent offence under this Act.
39. Government may invest officer with certain powers.– Government may invest any officer or any other person authorised in this behalf with all or any of the following powers, that is to say–
(a) the powers of a civil court to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and material objects;
(b) the
power to hold an inquiry into offences under this Act and in the course of such
inquiry to receive and record evidence; and
(c) the power to prosecute a case before a magistrate.
40. Officers, etc. to be public servants.– The officers or persons authorised under any provisions of this Act to do a certain thing or act in certain manner shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860).
41. Protection of action taken under this Act.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any officer for anything in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder.
42. Duty of police officer.– Every police officer shall, upon request made by any officer or person authorised under this Act, assist him in the due discharge of his duties under this Act.
43. Delegation of powers.– Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, delegate all or any of the powers conferred upon it under the provisions of this Act to any officer subordinate to it.
44. Power to grant exemption.– Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, Government may, in the
interest of any scientific or public purpose, allow, by notification in the
official Gazette, hunting and capturing of such wild animals in any specified
place by any specific means.
[42][44-A. Power of sale or exchange.– Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Government may, for scientific management, allow sale or exchange of wild animal, from any wildlife breeding farm, wildlife park, safari park, zoological garden or zoo.]
45. Power to add to or exclude from Schedules.– Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, in respect, to any specified area–
(i) add to or exclude from the Schedules any wild animals, subject to such conditions as it may impose in each case; and
(ii) alter the period during which any wild animal specified in the First Schedule may be hunt.
46. Power to make rules.– (1) Government may make rules for the purposes of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for–
(a) the functions and powers of the Board;
(b) the powers and duties of the officers and other persons specially authorised to perform functions under this Act;
(c) the form in which and the terms and conditions, on which a licence, special licence, a permit or a special permit may be granted;
(d) the fees to be charged for any licence or permit or special licence or special permit;
(e) in the case of any species of wild animals the number and the sex that may be killed under special permit;
(f) reward to persons who render help in detection of offences under this Act;
(g) the authorities by whom, the conditions on which, and the manner in which licences may be issued;
(h) the management of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and game reserves;
(i) tenure of office, resignation and terms and conditions of members of the Board;
(j) the
recruitment, tenure of office, terms and conditions of service of the officers
and servants of the Board, and other persons;
(k) the delegation of administrative and financial powers to members, Secretary, officers and servants of the Board, and other persons; and
(l) any other matter required under any of the provisions of this Act to be prescribed.
47. Dissolution of the Board.– Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that the Board shall be dissolved on such date and with such consequences as may be specified in the notification.
48. Repeal and validation.– (1) The following enactments in their application to the Province of
the Punjab shall be deemed to have been repealed from the date the Punjab
Ordinances Temporary Enactment Act, 1973, in so far as it enacted the
provisions of the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) Ordinance, 1972 expired:-
(a) The Elephant Preservation Act, 1879 (Act No. VI of 1879);
(b) The Wild Bird and Animal Protection Act, 1912 (Act VIII of 1912); and
(c) The
(2) Everything done, action taken or order made under the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance, 1972 and its provisions as enacted by the Punjab Ordinances Temporary Enactment Act, 1973 on or after 25th October, 1972 and before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to have been validly done, taken or made.
49. Repeal of
First Schedule
[See Section 2 (D)]
Part I
Wild Birds and Animals which may be hunted
on an Ordinary Shooting License
A-Birds
Name
of species |
Bag
limit or number allowed per gun |
Time
and season when hunting permitted |
Category one– |
|
|
1. All the ducks within the family anatidae, including the tree ducks, diving ducks, surface
feeding and sheld ducks, except those ducks listed
under the Third Schedule as protected or listed hereunder in the First
Schedule. |
Not more than ten ducks of all species per day. |
1st October to 31st March. |
2. Ruddy Sheld-duck
or Brahminy duck, Tadorna Ferruginea. |
Not more than two of each of these three species per
day. |
Ditto |
3. Redcrested
pochard, Netta rufina |
||
4. Cotton Teal, Nettapus
coromandelianus. |
||
Category two– |
|
|
5. Bar headed Geese Anser Indicus |
Three only per day |
1st October to 1st March. |
6. Lesser white fronted geese Anser ibifors. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
Category three– Snipe, Plovers, Waders and Allied
Waterfowl. |
|
|
7. Fantail Snipe, Capella gallinago. |
Eight only per day |
1st Oct. to 1st March. |
8. Jack
Snipe, Capella minima |
Ditto. |
Ditto. |
9. Purple Moor hen Porphyrio porphyrio. |
Two only per day |
Ditto. |
10. Moorhen,
Galinula, chloropus |
Four only per day |
Ditto. |
11. Coot,
Fulica, atra |
Twelve only per day |
1st Oct. to 1st March. |
12. White Tailed
Lapwing, Vanellus leucurus. |
Two only per day |
Ditto. |
13. Red Wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
14. Gray plover or Black Bellied Plover pluvialis, squata rola. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
15. Curlew
Numenius, arguata |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
16. Black Tailed godwit, Limosa Limosa. |
Six only per day of all species of waders listed
below. |
Ditto. |
17. Common Redshank, Tringa totanus. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
18. Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa Stagnatilist. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
19. Green
Shank, Tringa nebularia |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
20. Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
21. Dunlin
Calidris alpinus |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
22. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris testaceus |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
Category Four– |
|
|
23. All cranes of family Gruidae
including Demoiselle and common cranes except Artic crane. |
Three birds per day |
15th August to 15th April. |
Category Five– Gallinacecus Birds– |
|
|
24. Himalayan Snow cook or Ram Chukor Tetraogallus himaal-yansis. |
Not more than one per day. |
1st October to 1st March. |
25. Chukor Partridge, Alectoris, graeca |
Not more than five per day |
1st November to 1st March. |
26. See See, Ammoperdix griseo-gularis |
Ditto |
1st November to 1st March. |
27. Black Partridge, Francolinus |
Not more than six per day |
15th November to 15th January on Sundays only. |
28. Grey
Partridge, Francolinus Pondicerianus. |
Not more than six per day |
15th November to 15th January on Sundays only. |
29. Common Quail, coturnix cotrunix |
No limit |
15th August to 15th April. |
30. Black
Breasted or Rain Quail |
Not more than six per day |
1st August to 30th September. |
Category six– Pigeons and Doves– |
|
|
31. Green Pigeon or Fruit Pigeon Columba aenea. |
Six only per day |
1st October to 1st March. |
32. Blue Rock Pigeon, Columba livia |
No limit |
Ditto. |
33. Wood Pigeon Columba Palumbus |
Two only per day |
Ditto. |
34. Rufous Turtle
Dove Strepto-pelia orientalis. |
Six only per day |
Ditto. |
35. Common Ring
Dove Strepro-pelia decaocto. |
No limit |
Ditto. |
36. Little Brown Dove or Senegal Dove Streptopelia senega-lensis. |
Six only per day |
Ditto. |
37. Long
Tail persian Dove |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
38. Turtle
Dove Turtur auritus |
Two only per day |
Ditto. |
Category seven– Sandgrous, Bustards and Stone Curlews– |
|
|
39 Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus. |
Eight only per day |
1st October to 1st March. |
40. Imperial Sandgrouse, Petrocles orientalis. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
41. Coronetted Sandgrouse Petrocles coronatus. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
42. Houbara Bustard or Mcqueens
Bustard chlamydotis undulata. |
Three only per day |
1st November to 1st March. |
43. Stone Curlew Burhinus Oedinnemus. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
44. Indian Courser Cursorius Coromandelicus. |
Two only per day |
Ditto. |
45. Jorrden Courser |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
Category eight– Birds of Prey– |
|
|
46. Hawks |
Three birds per day |
1st November to 1st March. |
47. Buzzards |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
48. Harrier |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
49. Falcons |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
B-Mammals |
||
50. Desert Hare Lepus nigri collisdayanus. |
Three per day |
1st September to 1st March. |
51. |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
52. Fishing
cat, Felis viverrina |
Unlimited |
All year round. |
53. Jungle
cat Felis chous |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
Part II
Wild
Animals for the Hunting of which a Special Permit is Required
[See Clause (iii) of Section 9]
Serial
No. |
Name
of species |
Season
when hunting is permitted. |
Localities
where hunting is permitted. |
1. |
Nill gai or Blue bull Bosela phus Tragocamelus |
1st December to 31st May |
In specified area except National parks and Game
sanctuaries. |
2. |
Urial Ovis orientalis |
Ditto |
Ditto. |
Second Schedule
[See Section 12 (2)]
Animals,
trophies or meat for the possession, transfer or export of which certificate of
lawful possession is required.
(1) Any live game animal.
(2) Any trophy or meat derived from a game animal.
(3) Trophy of any animal in the Third Schedule and
of any animal protected by any other
Third Schedule
[See Section 2 (n) and 9 (ii)]
Wild birds and animals protected throughout the year.
A–Birds
Category one–
The following ducks:
1. Lesser Whistling Teal, Dendrocygna Javanica.
2. Greater Whistling Teal, Dendrocygna bicolor.
3. Common Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna.
4. Marbled Teal, Anas angustirostra.
5. Baikal Teal, Anas
6. Falcated Teal, Anas falcata.
7. Golden Eyed Duck, Bucephala clangula.
8. Long Tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis.
9. Smew, Mergue
albellus.
10. Nukhta or Comb Duck, Sarkindiornis melanotos.
11. Goosander, Mergus merganser.
12. Red Breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator.
13. Spotbilled Duck, Anas pocilorhyncha.
14. White Headed or Stiff tailed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala.
Category
two–
15. All Swans of the genus cygnus including Mute Swans, whooper and Bewicks swans.
Category three–
16. Grey Leg Geese, Anser anser
Category four–
17. Artic crane.
Category five–
18. All Pelicans of the genus pelecanus including rosy, Dalmation and Spotted billed pelicans.
Category six–
19. All Egrets, Herons, Night Herons and Bitterns of the family of Ardeidae including parple and Grey herons, Little Chestnut and Common Bitterns, Cattle Egrets, Large Egrets.
Category seven–
20. All Storks of the family Ciconidae including painted, Black Necked, White and Black and White Necked Storks.
Category eight–
21. All Ibises and Spoonbills including the Glossy Ibis, White Ibis and Spoonbill.
Cetegory nine–
22. All Flamingoes of the genus phoenicopterus.
Category ten–
23. All Hill Pheasants including the Kalij, Kekiass-Cheer, Impeyan and Western Horned Tragopan.
24. Button Quail, Trunix tanki.
25. Little Bustard Quail, Turning sylvatica.
Category eleven–
The following species of Plovers, Stone-Curlews Waders, Water Birds and Gallinules:
26. Water Rail, Rallus aquatious.
27. White Breasted Waterhen,
Amaurornis phoenicurus.
28. Water Cock, Gallicrex cinerea.
29. Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus.
30. Sociable Lapwing, Vanellus gregariues
31. Green plover or Peewit, Vanellus vanellus.
32. Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus malabaricus.
33. Solitary Snipe, Capella solitaria.
34. Painted Snipe, Rostratula benghalensis.
35. Wood Cock, Scolopox rusticola.
36. Avocet, Recurvirostra, avosetta.
37. Great Stone Plover, Esacus magnirostris.
38. Cream coloured courser, Cursorius cursor.
Category twelve–
The following Sandgrouse, Bustards and Doves:-
39. Large pintail Sandgrouses, Ptercocles alchata.
40. Great Indian Bustard, Choriotis nigricepes.
41. Little Bustard, Otis tetrax.
42. Indian Sangrouse, Pterocles exustus.
43. Close Barred or painted, Sandgrouse Pterocle indicus.
44. Red turtle Dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica.
45. Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis.
46. Wedge Tailed Green pigeon, Trerion sphenura,
47. Ruff, Reaf, Jukkari (wood cock) Scolopax Rusticola.
Category thirteen–
Following birds of prey:-
48. Eagles, Vultures, Kites.
Category fourteen–
49. Common
Starling and Rosy Starling.
B–Mammals
Category one–
50. The Black Bear–Selenarctos thibetanus.
51. Leopard or panther–Pantherx pardus.
52. Leopard Cat–Folis benghalsnsis.
53. Desert Cat–Felis libyca.
54. Caracal–Felis caracal.
55. Himalayan Palm Civet–Paguma larvata.
56. Small Indian Civet–Viverricula Indica.
57. Yellow-Throated Marten–Martes Flavigula.
58. Ratel or Honey Badger–Mellivora capensis.
59. Smooth Coated Otter–Lutra prespicillata.
60. Striped Hyaena–Hyaena hyaena.
61. Rhesus Monkey–Macaca mulatta.
62. Hill Fox–Vulpes Vulpes
griffithi.
Category two–
63. Barking Deer–Muntiacus muntjac.
64. Hog Deer–Axisporcinus.
65. Chittal or Spotted Deer–Axis Axis.
66. Chinkara Gazelle–Gazella Gazella.
67. Black Buck–Antelope cervicapra.
68. Goral–Naemorhedus goral.
69. Indus Dolphin–Platanista indi.
Category three–
70. All monitor Lizards of the Genus Varanus and Spiny tailed lizards of the Genus Uromastyx.
71. All Snakes of the family colubridac containing non-poisonous and beneficial rat Snakes and the Genus Python.
72. All Crocodiles including Mugger, Crocodilus palustris and the fish Eating Crocodile, Gavialis gangeticus.
Fourth Schedule
Schedule of Wild Birds and Animals which are not Protected
[See Section 2 (v)]
Serial
No. |
Scientific
Name |
English
Name |
Vernacular
Name |
1. |
Corvus Levaillanti |
The Himalayan Jungle Crow. |
Kowa, |
2. |
Corvus splendens |
The House Crow |
|
3. |
Psittaoula eupatria |
The Large Indian Paraquet |
Tota, Raitota. |
4. |
Psittacula krameri |
The Rospingen Paraquer |
|
5. |
Caprimulgus europasus unwivi |
|
Chippak, Chappa, Dab Chiri, Dabhak, Andha Chirya. |
6. |
Caprimulgus Macrurus albtatus. |
Idight Jar. |
Chupka. |
7. |
Caprimulgus Indivius |
Indian Jungle Night Jar |
Kapoo. |
8. |
Lynocornis carniciceps |
Great cared Night Jar |
Sandhya muznaki. |
9. |
Viduiae |
Munias |
Lalmunias. |
10. |
Ploecinae |
Weaver Birds |
Baya, Bijra, etc. |
11. |
Herpestes auropunatatus |
The Small Indian Mangoose. |
Neol, Nyul, Naola, Dhor. |
12. |
Herpestes Mungo |
The Common Indian Mangoose. |
|
13. |
Herpestes smithi |
The Ruddy Mangoose |
|
14. |
Canis pallipes |
The Indian Wolf |
Gurg, Bhariya. |
15. |
Canis Lupus |
The Wolf |
Bhagya. |
16. |
Canis aureus |
The Jackal |
Giddaryal, phival. |
17. |
Preropus medius |
The Indian Fruit Bat |
Badur, arbagual, chugmidd, dultakao. |
18. |
Hystrix bucura |
The Indian Porcupine |
Syal, Sa Kundewalli. |
19. |
Mus (whole family) |
Rats and mice |
Chuha, Chuhi. |
20. |
Scurius indicus |
The Squirrel |
Galarhi. |
21. |
Sus scrofa |
The Wild bear |
Suhar, barla janwar. |
[1]This Act was passed
by the Punjab Assembly on 28th January, 1974; assented to by the Governor of
the Punjab on 1st February, 1974; and, published in the Punjab Gazette
(Extraordinary), dated 1st February, 1974, pages 117-K to 117-GG.
[2]Inserted by the
[3]Inserted by the
[4]Inserted by the
[5]Substituted by
the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[6]Substituted by the
Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[7]Inserted by the
Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[8]Inserted by the
[9]Substituted by
the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[10]Inserted by the
[11]Inserted by the
[12]Inserted by the
[13]The word “and”
omitted by the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) (Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[14]Substituted by the
Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007)., for the full-stop.
[15]Inserted by the
Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[16] Section 3,
to the extent of honorary officers, was repealed the Punjab Protected Areas Act
2020 (XXIII of 2020).
[17]Substituted by the
[18]Substituted by the
[19]Substituted for the
words “Forestry, Wildlife,
Fisheries and Tourism”, by the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) (Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[20]Substituted by the
[21]Substituted by the
[22]Substituted by the
[23]Inserted by the Punjab
Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment)
Act 2023 (X of 2023).
[24]Substituted for the
words “protected
animal or game”, by the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) (Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[25]Substituted for the
word “Board”, by the Punjab
Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment)
Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[26]Inserted by the
[27]Inserted by the
[28] The following Section
was repealed by the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 (XXIII of 2020):
“16. Wildlife Sanctuary.– (1) Government may,
by notification in the official Gazette, declare any area which is the property
of Government or over which Government has proprietary rights to be wildlife
sanctuary and may demarcate in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The wildlife sanctuary shall be set aside
as undisturbed breeding ground for the protection of wildlife and access
thereto for public shall, except in accordance with the rules, be prohibited
and no exploitation of forest therein shall be allowed except for reducing fire
hazards, epidemic or insect attacks or other natural calamities.
(3) No person shall–
(i) enter or reside,
(ii) cultivate any land,
(iii) damage or destroy any vegetation,
(iv) hunt, kill or capture any wild animal or
fire any gun or other firearm within one mile of the boundaries,
(v) introduce any exotic species of animal or
plant,
(vi) introduce any domestic animal or allow it
to stray,
(vii) cause any fire, or
(viii) pollute water, in a wildlife sanctuary:
Provided
that Government may for specific purposes, as are deemed expedient, authorise the doing of the aforementioned acts other than
those mentioned in clause (iv)”
[29]Inserted by the
[30] The following
Section was repealed by the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 (XXIII of 2020):
“17. National park.– (1) With a view to the
protection and preservation of flora and fauna in the natural state, Government
may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare any area which is the
property of Government or over which Government has proprietary rights to be a
national park and may demarcate it in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) A national
park shall be accessible to public for recreation, education and research
subject to such restrictions as Government may impose.
(3) Provision for access roads to and
construction of rest houses, hostels and other buildings in the national park
along with amenities for public may be so made and the forest therein shall be
so managed and forest produce so obtained as not to impair the object of the
establishment of the national park.
(4) The following acts shall be prohibited in
a national park,–
(i) hunting, shooting, trapping, killing
or capturing of any wild animal in a national park or within one and a half
mile radius of its boundary;
(ii) firing any firearm or doing any other
act which may disturb any animal or bird or doing any act which interferes with
the breeding places;
(iii) felling, tapping, burning or in any
way damaging or destroying, taking, collecting or removing any plant or tree
therefrom;
(iv) clearing or breaking up any land for
cultivation, mining or for any other purpose; and
(v) polluting water flowing in and
through the national park:
Provided
that Government may, for specific purposes, as are deemed expedient, authorise the doing of the aforementioned prohibited acts.”
[31] The following
Section was repealed by the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 (XXIII of 2020):
“18. Game
reserve.– (1) The Government
may declare any area to be a game reserve.
(2) No hunting and shooting of a wild animal
shall be allowed in the game reserve, except under a special permit, which may
specify the maximum number of game animal that may be killed or captured, the
area and duration for which such permit shall be valid:
Provided
that the number of occasions on which hunting and shooting may be allowed shall
not exceed two in a year.”
[32]Inserted by the
[33] The following
Section was repealed by the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 (XXIII of 2020):
“19. Alteration of boundaries of wildlife sanctuary,
national park and game reserve.– Government may, from time to time, by
notification in the official Gazette, declare any alteration in the boundaries
of wildlife sanctuary, national park, and game reserve established under this
Act.”
[34]Substituted by the
[35]Substituted by the
[36]Substituted for the
word “Board” by the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) (Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[37]Substituted for the
word “Board” by the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) (Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[38]Substituted by the
[39]Substituted for the
words “estimated by such
officer”
by the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[40]Substituted by the
Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007).
[41]Substituted by the
Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management)
(Amendment) Act 2007 (XII of 2007), for the word “second”.
[42]Inserted by the