Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
38. Power of Central Government to declare areas as
sanctuaries or National Parks
(1) Where the State
Government leases or otherwise transfers any area under its control, not being
an area within a sanctuary, to the Central Government, the Central Government
may, if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in section 18 are
fulfilled in relation to the area so transferred to it, declare such area, by
notification, to be a sanctuary and the provisions of 39[sections 18
to 35] (both inclusive), 54 and 55 shall apply in relation to such sanctuary as
they apply in relation to a sanctuary declared by the State Government.
(2) The Central
Government may, if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in section 35
are fulfilled in relation to any area referred to in sub-section (1), whether
or not such area has been declared, to be a sanctuary by the Central Government
or the State Government, declare such area, by notification, to be a National
Park and the provisions of sections 35, 54 and 55 shall apply in relation to
such National Park as they apply in relation to a National Park declared by the
State Government.
(3) In relation to a
sanctuary or National Park declared by the Central Government, the powers and
duties of the Chief Wild Life Warden under the sections referred to in
sub-sections (1) and (2), shall be exercised and discharged by the Director or
by such other officer as may be authorized by the Director in this behalf and
references, in the sections aforesaid, to the State Government shall be
construed as references to the Central Government and reference therein to the
Legislature of the State shall be construed as a reference to Parliament.