Chapter IVC§38Y–38Z
Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau
Inserted by the 2006 amendment, this chapter sets up the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) — India's specialised national-level enforcement agency for wildlife and forest crime. The Bureau pools officers from the Wildlife, Police, Forest and Customs services and is tasked with intelligence collection, inter-State and international coordination, CITES implementation, capacity building, and policy advice.
2 sections · MVP coverage
Constitution of Tiger and other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau
The Centre constitutes the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau by notification — headed by the Director of Wildlife Preservation, with senior officers drawn from Police, Forest and Customs as Additional/Joint Directors.
The Central Government may, for the purposes of this Act, by order published in the Official Gazette, constitute a Tiger and other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau to be known as the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau consisting of— (a) the Director of Wildlife Preservation—Director ex officio; (b) the Inspector-General of Police—Additional Director; (c) the Deputy Inspector-General of Police—Joint Director; (d) the Deputy Inspector-General of Forests—Joint Director; (e) the Additional Commissioner (Customs and Central Excise)—Joint Director; and (f) such other officers as may be appointed from amongst the officers covered under sections 3 and 4 of this Act.
Powers and functions of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
WCCB's six functions — gather and share organised-wildlife-crime intelligence, coordinate enforcement, implement CITES/international protocols, assist foreign agencies, build scientific investigation capacity, and advise the Centre. It may exercise §5(1), §50(1)/(8) and §55 powers as delegated.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau shall take measures with respect to— (i) collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action, so as to apprehend the criminals and to establish a centralised wildlife crime data bank; (ii) co-ordination of actions by various officers, State Governments and other authorities in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, either directly or through regional and border units set up by the Bureau; (iii) implementation of obligations under the various international Conventions and protocols that are in force at present or which may be ratified or acceded to by India in future; (iv) assistance to concerned authorities in foreign countries and concerned international organisations to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control; (v) develop infrastructure and capacity building for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes; (vi) advice the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, and suggest changes required in relevant policy and laws from time to time.
(2) The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau shall exercise— (i) such powers as may be delegated to it under sub-section (1) of section 5, sub-sections (1) and (8) of section 50 and section 55 of this Act; and (ii) such other powers as may be prescribed.