RNI No. MAHENG /2009/35528
महाराष्ट्रट शासन राजपत्र
असाधाराण भाग आठ
वर्ष १२, अंक १४] मंगळवारा, मार्चष १७, २०२६/फाल्गुन २६, शाके १९४७ [पृष्ठे ३, किंकंमत : रुपये २७.००
असाधाराण क्रमांक २७
प्राकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान
महाराष्ट्र किंवधानमंडळार्चे अकिंधाकिंनयेम व राज्येपालांांनी प्राख्येाकिंपत केलांेलांे अध्येादेशा व केलांेलांे
किंवकिंनयेम आकिंण किंवकिंधा व न्येाये किंवभागाकडून आलांेलांी किंवधाेयेके (इंग्रजी अनुवादे).
In pursuance of clause (3) of article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation in English of the Wild Life (Protection) (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L. A. Bill No. XXIV of 2026), introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the 17th March 2026, is hereby published under the authority of the Governor.
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
SATISH WAGHOLE, Secretary (Legislation) to Government, Law and Judiciary Department.
L. A. BILL No. XXIV OF 2026.
A BILL
further to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in its application
to the State of Maharashtra.
53 of 1972.
WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in its application to the State of Maharashtra, for the purposes hereinafter appearing; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :–
1. (1) This Act may be called the Wild Life (Protection) (Maharashtra Short title and commencement.
Amendment) Act, 2026.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
(१)
भाग आठ-२७—१२ महाराष्ट्रट शासन राजपत्र असाधाराण भाग आठ, मार्चष १७, २०२६/फाल्गुन २६, शाके १९४७ 2. In section 12 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in its application 53 of 1972.
to the State of Maharashtra, in the proviso,–
Amendment of section 12 of 53 of 1972.
(i) in clause (a), after the words and figure "in Schedule I" the words, figures and letter "excluding Leopard Panthera pardus specified in entry at serial No. 43 in Part A: MAMMALS in Schedule I," shall be inserted;
(ii) in clause (b), after the words "any other wild animal" the words, figures and letter "including Leopard Panthera pardus specified in entry at serial No. 43 in Part A: MAMMALS in Schedule I," shall be inserted.
महाराष्ट्रट शासन राजपत्र असाधाराण भाग आठ, मार्चष १७, २०२६/फाल्गुन २६, शाके १९४७ ३STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972) provides for the protection of wild animals and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensure the ecological and environmental security of the country. This Act alongwith the Maharashtra Wild Life (Protection) Rules, 2014 and associated Forest Acts and Rules, contains stringent provisions to strengthen conservation of the wildlife. Due to strict conservation and protection measures, the population of wild animals especially leopards has been increasing in the State.
2. In many forest areas of the State, population of the leopard has increased beyond carrying capacity of that area. This often leads to fights amongst them for territorial supremacy, in which weaker leopard leaves the territory and get displaced into non-forest areas adjacent to the forests.
Leopards are highly adaptable and opportunistic predators with respect to their habitat needs and food requirements, therefore they are found in agricultural fields, trees and bushes and near human habitation. Leopards have established such areas as their territories and they also breed in such non-forest regions. The survival rate of leopard cubs is more compared to other cubs of wild animal of felidea family. Such leopards come to human habitat for domestic animals who are easy prey for them and also attack humans leading to frequent and escalating human-wildlife conflicts.
3. Section 12 of the said Act provides that the Chief Wild Life Warden may with the previous permission of the Central Government, grant permit for hunting (which includes capture and relocation) in respect of any wild animal specified in Schedule I of the said Act, for the purposes of scientific management which includes translocation of any wild animal to an alternative suitable habitat, population management of wild life, etc. Leopard is specified in entry 43 in Schedule I appended to the said Act. Therefore, in cases of human- leopard conflict the Chief Wildlife Warden cannot take steps for population management or translocation of leopards under the said section 12 without permission of the Central Government. This highly regulated cumbersome process is time consuming and causing delay in effective scientific management and translocation of leopards as well as in dealing with human-leopard conflict in the State.
The Government, therefore, considers it expedient to amend section 12 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, suitably, to enable the Chief Wildlife Warden to take necessary steps for scientific management of leopards which include translocation and population management with the permission of the State Government.
4. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.
Mumbai,
GANESH NAIK,
Dated the 16th March 2026. Minister for Forests.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.