law: The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  50. Settlement of
  
  disputes between State Biodiversity Boards.-
  1.  
  
    If
  
  a dispute arises between the National Biodiversity Authority and a State
  
  Biodiversity Board, the said Authority or the Board, as the case may be, may
  
  prefer an appeal to the Central Government within such time as may be
  
  prescribed.
  2.  
  
    Every
  
  appeal made under sub-section (1) shall be in such form as may be prescribed by
  
  the Central Government.
  3.  
  
    The
  
  procedure for disposing of an appeal shall be such as may be prescribed by the
  
  Central Government: Provided that before disposing of an appeal, the parties
  
  shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
  4.  
  
  
  
    If
  
  a dispute arises between the State Biodiversity Boards, the Central Government
  
  shall refer the same to the National Biodiversity Authority.
  5.  
  
    While
  
  adjudicating any dispute under sub-section (4), the National Biodiversity
  
  Authority shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and shall follow
  
  such procedure as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
  6.  
  
    The
  
  National Biodiversity Authority shall have, for the purposes of discharging its
  
  functions under this section, the same powers as are vested in a civil court
  
  under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in respect of the following matters,
  
  namely:-
  a.   summoning and
  
  enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
  b.   requiring the discovery
  
  and production of documents;
  c.   receiving evidence on
  
  affidavits;
  d.   issuing commissions
  
  for the examination of witnesses or documents;
  e.   reviewing its
  
  decisions;
  f.   dismissing an
  
  application for default or deciding it ex parte;
  g.   setting aside any
  
  order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed by it ex
  
  parte;
  h.   any other matter
  
  which may be prescribed.
  1.  
  
  
  
  
  2.  
  
  
  3.  
  
  
  4.  
  
  
  5.  
  
  
  6.  
  
  
  7.  
  
    Every
  
  proceeding before the National Biodiversity Authority shall be deemed to be a
  
  judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228, and for the
  
  purpose of section 196, of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the National
  
  Biodiversity Authority shall be deemed to be a civil court for all the purposes
  
  of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of
  
  1974).