What is a sanctuary? What are the pre-conditions for its establishment?
A sanctuary is not legally defined though broadly speaking it is a Protected Area, which is carved out with the primary intention of protecting wildlife. A sanctuary is an area that is established under three provisions of the WLPA: i.e Section 26-A, Section 38(1) and Section 66(3). For an area to be notified a sanctuary there are three conditions to be fulfilled: Firstly, a notification under Section 18 must be issued declaring the intention and the boundaries of a particular area that is required to be declared a sanctuary. Secondly, the period (two months) after proclamation made by the Collector for preferring claims and with regard to peoples’ rights must elapse and thirdly the State Government must dispose off all claims made in relation to any land. After these three conditions are fulfilled, the State Government is required to issue a notification specifying the limits of the area that would finally be notified as a sanctuary. The sanctuary exists from the date of such notifica
