Guwahati: The Chief Justice (Acting) of Gauhati High Court, Justice N Kotiswar Singh on Saturday said, there is an urgent need for widespread multi-agencies coordination to prevent wildlife crimes.
“Prevention and mitigation of wildlife crimes that have acquired an alarming proportional 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 Singh.
Delivering the key-note address in a sensitization workshop on “wildlife crimes: challenges, solutions and role of stakeholders” which was organized in Bongaigaon jointly by Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) and biodiversity conservation organization Aaranyak, 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.
Same is the case with the Army, other paramilitary forces who are expected to play a contributory role in helping forest and police personnel in preventing wildlife crimes.
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 of the WL (Protection) Act there are provisions of the CRPC which are equally applicable.
Justice Saikia commented, “Largely, I feel that stakeholders, NGOs, law enforcers, experts, 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 a particular action by the authority or particular right claimed by the person/accused is capable of being granted under the provision of the Act.”
The workshop was largely participated by judicial officers of Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Chirang districts besides officials from Assam Police, Assam Forest Department, Sashatra Seema Bol (SSB).
