Section 38L of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
1[38L.Constitution of National Tiger Conservation Authority.-- (1) The Central Government shall constitute a body to be known as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the Tiger Conservation Authority), to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act.
- (2)The Tiger Conservation Authority shall consist of the following members, namely:--
- (a)the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests---Chairperson;
- (b)the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests---Vice-Chairperson;
- (c)three members of Parliament of whom two shall be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States;
- (d)eight experts or professionals having prescribed qualifications and experience in conservation of wild life and welfare of people living in tiger reserve out of which at least two shall be from the field of tribal development;
- (e)Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests;
- (f)Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests;
- (g)Director, Wild Life Preservation, Ministry of Environment and Forests;
- (h)six Chief Wild Life Wardens from the tiger reserve States in rotation for three years;
- (i)an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary and Legislative Counsel from the Ministry of Law and Justice;
- (j)Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs;
- (k)Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment;
- (l)Chairperson, National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes;
- (m)Chairperson, National Commission for the Scheduled Castes;
- (n)Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj;
- (o)2[an officer not below the rank of Inspector General of Forests] having at least ten years experience in a tiger reserve or wildlife management, who shall be the Member-Secretary,, to be notified by the Central Government, in the Official Gazette.
- (3)It is hereby declared that the office of member of the Tiger Conservation Authority shall not disqualify its holder for being chosen as, or for being, a member of either House of Parliament.]
Summary
- The Central Government must set up the National Tiger Conservation Authority to manage tiger protection.
- The Minister in charge of environment and forests leads the Authority as its Chairperson.
- The group includes three Members of Parliament to provide political oversight.
- Eight professional experts with knowledge of wild life and tribal welfare are part of the team.
- Six Chief Wild Life Wardens from tiger states join the board on a three year rotation.
- A high ranking forest officer serves as the Member-Secretary to handle daily operations.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who is the Chairperson of the National Tiger Conservation Authority under Section 38L?
Under Section 38L of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests is the Chairperson.
2. How many Members of Parliament are on the Authority under Section 38L?
Under Section 38L of the wild life law, there are three Members of Parliament, with two from the House of the People and one from the Council of States.
3. Are tribal experts included in the Authority under Section 38L of the Act?
Yes, Section 38L of the Act requires that at least two of the eight expert members must be from the field of tribal development.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 38L of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, how many total experts or professionals are nominated to the Authority?
Q2.Under Section 38L of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which official serves as the Vice-Chairperson?
Q3.According to Section 38L of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, how long do the Chief Wild Life Wardens serve on the board?
Q4.Under Section 38L of The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, what is the minimum rank for the Member-Secretary?