Amid the controversy over Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu bringing a stuffed black partridge from Pakistan, in alleged violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has sent the bird to the Chief Wildlife Warden for custody and appropriate action as per the law.
Chief Wildlife Warden Kuldeep Kumar has shared the information with UT’s Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Debendra Dalia after the latter asked about the jurisdiction to probe the issue.
Since the stuffed bird had been gifted in Chandigarh, SP Gupta, Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India, had directed the UT to investigate the matter and inform the board if any offence was committed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
In reply to the UT’s query, Punjab’s Chief Wildlife Warden has stated that necessary action was being taken as per law. A senior CMOfunctionary said the Chief Wildlife Warden had been asked to get back with the rules.
Last week, two activists had approached the Animal Welfare Board and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau against Sidhu for allegedly possessing the stuffed partridge in violation of the Act.
At a meeting with Capt Amarinder last week, Sidhu had gifted him the stuffed partridge. The CM had told Sidhu that he would have to check if it was permissible to keep the bird protected under Schedule IV of the Act.
Wildlife Department officials said as per rules the possessor of the stuffed bird had to approach the Chief Wildlife Warden and obtain certification, before keeping it or gifting it. The black partridge, however, was not covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
