The Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020
The Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020
The Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 essentially targets at making provisions for protection, preservation, conservation, and management of ecologically important areas, and for the ancillary matters. It was passed on 10 September 2020 to the extent of whole of Punjab. The Act consists of 5 chapters highlighting the list of protected areas such as a national a nature reserve, a wildlife sanctuary, a wilderness area, a buffer zone, a wildlife reserve, a wetland and the rules regarding their management and discusses the penalties in case of breach to abide by the law. According to the act as soon as may be but not later than thirty days of the commencement of this Act, the Government shall constitute a Board to be called the Management Board. The Punjab Protected Areas Act further describes that no court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act, except on a complaint in writing by an officer authorized by the Government in this behalf. A Magistrate of the First Class, specially empowered in this behalf by the Government, may try any offence punishable under this Act in a summary manner, as provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), provided that subsection (2) of section 262 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898) shall not apply for trial of cases under this Act.
