Guwahati: “Prevention and mitigation of wildlife crimes that has acquired an alarming proportion all over the globe, require multifaceted and coordinated efforts among various stakeholders including forest personnel, police, border guards, paramilitary forces, army and other concerned agencies,” said Justice N Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice (Acting) of Gauhati High Court at Bongaigaon today.
He said this while delivering the key-note address in a sensitization workshop on wildlife crimes which was organized in Bongaigaon jointly by Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) and biodiversity conservation organization Aaranyak.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Justice Singh said fundamental duties as enshrined in the Constitution of India entrust all the citizens to protect the natural environment, forest, water bodies (lakes) and wildlife hence an SSB jawan posted on the frontier can’t overlook any attempt to smuggle out precious wildlife/wildlife parts from the country even though his/her principal duty is to guard the frontier.
Also Read: Tea Gardens in Assam haven for leopards
He added that the same is the case with the Army and other paramilitary forces who are expected to play a contributory role in helping forest and police personnel in preventing wildlife crimes.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
He further spoke about fine points that must not be overlooked while apprehending a wildlife criminal or making seizures which are very important in cases related to wildlife crimes.
Addressing the workshop, Justice Soumitra Saikia of Gauhati High Court while highlighting some of the key provisions in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 pointed out that in conjunction with the WLP Act there are provisions of the CRPC which are equally applicable.
Justice Saikia commented, “Largely, I feel that stakeholders, NGOs, law enforcers, experts, and forest officials have done a tremendous job. In the judiciary, we can’t suggest/direct the government to frame a law. We are only required to decide in any given facts and circumstances of a case whether particular action by the authority or particular right claimed by the person/accused is capable of being granted under the provision of the Act.”
Also Read: Assam: ULFA-I threatens to ban Minister Sanjoy Kishan in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
The workshop was overwhelmingly participated by judicial officers of Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Chirang districts besides officials from Assam Police, Assam Forest Department, Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB).