Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) announces the release of its book “Commentaries on Wildlife Law – cases, statutes and notifications” by the Hon’ble former Justice of Supreme Court, Justice Leela Seth on 26th may 2006 at a function organized at the India International Centre, New Delhi at 5 pm.

The book is a first ever commentary on the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, it also includes compilation of the Supreme Court and High Courts judgments on Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and other relevant statutes.

The book authored by Ritwick Dutta, Legal Advisor WTI and researched by Vyom Raghuvanshi of WTI is the result of a two-year intensive research of judgments and orders related to wildlife conservation.

Vivek Menon, Executive Director WTI will inaugurate the function. About 30 guests including lawyers, conservationists, government officials and others are expected to attend the function.

Today, wildlife in India is facing one of its most severe crises. The disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve & the general trend of declining tiger numbers in Central India (as per the recent Wildlife Institute of India Report) characterize it. So does the surge in elephant poaching in Orissa, rhino poaching in Kaziranga and the lion poaching crisis in Gir.

Besides poaching, depletion of prey base, and habitat fragmentation are some of the reasons for their decline.

The judiciary is seen as the last hope for saving India’s vanishing wildlife, especially at the time of political apathy on issues of wildlife conservation.

Perhaps no judiciary in the world has devoted so much of its time as the Supreme Court of India has done on the issues of wildlife and forest conservation.

At a time when thousands of cases are pending before the courts, the interest in conservation led the Supreme Court to pass a number of significant orders and judgments to save the endangered wildlife.

The number of convictions in wildlife offences has always been very low. Celebrities like Salman Khan and M. A. K ‘Tiger’ Pataudi despite being involved in several poaching cases, are still free. Lack of will and ignorance of the law in the enforcement agencies is attributed for this state.

This book is in response to a long term need felt by field level enforcement officials, lawyers, NGO’s and activists dealing in offences related to wildlife issues.

Prompt prosecution of wildlife offenders is greatly hampered due to lack of information on wildlife laws among the enforcement officials. The case laws and the commentaries on the Wildlife (Protection) Act in the book would equip the enforcement officials to take appropriate actions.

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Wildlife Trust of Inda (WTI) is a not -for- Proft Charity organization in india. The organization work across the country in the field of wildlife conservation, Rescue, Rehabilitaton, Enforcement assistance etc.. to ensure a better future for the Wildlife in India.

For Information on the book please contact;
Vyom Raghuvanshi (Legal expert, WTI) Cell: 9911007782 / vyom@wti.org.in
Jose Louies (Sr. Programme officer Communications) Cell: 9818931870 / jose@wti.org.in
Wildlife Trust of India, A-220, New Friends Colony, New Delhi-110065
Tell: 011-26326025/26 email: info@wti.org.in