26th September, 2007
The Director, Wildlife Preservation & Member Secretary
National Board for Wildlife
Government of India
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex
Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003
Sir:
Sub: Re-constitution of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife
Ref: 1. Notification F.No. 6-1/2006 WL-I(pt) dated 9th July 2007
2. Letter F.No. 6-1/2006 WL-I(pt) dated 12th July 2007
We are in receipt of the notification referred at (1) sent to us vide letter referred at (2) regarding the re-constitution of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife.
Upon preliminary examination, it appears that the said notification may not be in consonance with the relevant provisions of The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 and the National Board for Wild Life Rules, 2003. Vide the notification referred at (1) above, all the powers and duties of the National Board appear to have been delegated to the Standing Committee without any meeting or resolution of the National Board.
Further, a meeting of the re-constituted Standing Committee has also been held recently. Since the National Board itself has not met, we the members (other than those on the "Standing Committee") are unaware of the details of the agenda items and the record of business transacted at the said meeting of the Standing Committee.
In view of the facts and circumstances explained above, it may be kindly clarified in the records that are sent to the Chairperson for approval, that the business transacted at the Standing Committee meeting does not have the approval and concurrence of the entire National Board.
From the present arrangement, it also appears that the constitution and functioning of the Standing Committee is being controlled by the Ministry of Environment and Forests when in fact it is accountable to the NBWL and has to function under the direction and guidance of the Board and its Chairperson.
The legality of re-constituting the Standing Committee by-passing the National Board, and the procedure for delegation and transaction of business to the Standing Committee, requires re-examination. Therefore, the non-official members of the NBWL seek corrective action in order to ensure conformity with the provisions of The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 and Rules framed in this regard.
This is for your kind information and appropriate action.
Sincerely,
On behalf of Wildlife First
and the following members of the National Board for Wildlife
Praveen Bhargav
Managing Trustee
Address: 1235, I floor, 26th A Main, 4th T Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore- 560 041
Signed on behalf of and in consultation with:
Wildlife Protection Society of India – Smt. Belinda Wright
Reef Watch – Smt. Mitali Kakar
World Wide Fund for Nature-India – Shri Ravi Singh
Dr Divyabhanusinh Chavda
Shri Valmik Thapar
Shri Biswajit Mohanty
Dr Bibhab Talukdar
Shri Shekar Dattatri
Shri Mahendra Vyas
Shri Brijendra Singh
Shri Dilip Khatau
Dr M.K. Ranjitsinh
Smt. Bonani Kakkar
Copy to:
- Director, Prime Minister’s Office, South Block, New Delhi
- PS to Hon’ble MOS (Forest & Wildlife)
- PS of Hon’ble MOS (Environment)
- PPS to Secretary (E&F)
- PPS to DGF&SS
- PPS to Addl. DGF
- PS to IGF (WL)
- PS to Member-Secretary, NTCA, Bikaner House, New Delhi
- PPS to IGF & Director (PE)
- PS to Member-Secretary, CZA, Bikaner House, New Delhi
- Joint Director (WL)
