Power to make rules-(1) Subject to all rights now vested in

1. (1) Subject to all rights now vested in individuals and communities by law or custom or usage having the force of law, the Government may make rules to regulate the use of the pasturage or of the natural produce of any protected forest; and such rules may with respect to such forests- (a) regulate the occupation, clearing, ploughing or breaking up of land for cultivation or other purposes; (b) regulate or prohibit the kindling of fire and provide for the precautions to be taken to prevent and spreading of fire; (c) regulate the cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber and the collection and removal of natural produce; (d) regulate the quarrying of stone, the boiling of catechu or the burning of lime or charcoal; (e) regulate or prohibit the cutting of grass or the pasturing of cattle and regulate the payments, if any, to be made for such cutting or pasturing; (f) regulate or prohibit hunting, shooting, fishing, poisoning of water and setting traps or snares; (g) regulate the sale or free grant of timber or other natural produce; (h) specify the fees, royalties, or other payments for such timber or other natural produce and the manner in which such fees, royalties or other payments shall be levied. 1[(2) Whoever contravenes any rule made under subsection (1) shall be punishable.- (i) in every case where any of the acts aforesaid relates to Red Sanders wood or Sandal wood or any scheduled tree shall upon conviction be punishable with imprisonment for term which may extend to ten years and fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees; provided that,- (a) in case of first offence, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than five years and an amount of fine shall not be less than three lakh rupees; and (b) in case of second and subsequent offences, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than seven years and an amount of fine shall not be less than five lakh rupees: (ii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend upto five years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to thirty thousand rupees: provided that,- (a) in case of first offence, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than three months but which may extend upto three years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees; and (b) in case of second and subsequent offences the term of imprisonment shall not be less than one year but which may extend up to five years with fine which shall not be less than thirty thousand rupees.] (3) The Government may, by notification and for reasons to be recorded in writing, exempt any person or class of persons belonging to the

individuals and communities by law or custom or usage having the force of law, the Government may make rules to regulate the use of the pasturage or of the natural produce of any protected forest; and such rules may with respect to such forests-

1. (a) regulate the occupation, clearing, ploughing or breaking up of land for cultivation or other purposes;
2. (b) regulate or prohibit the kindling of fire and provide for the precautions to be taken to prevent and spreading of fire;
3. (c) regulate the cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber and the collection and removal of natural produce;
4. (d) regulate the quarrying of stone, the boiling of catechu or the burning of lime or charcoal;
5. (e) regulate or prohibit the cutting of grass or the pasturing of cattle and regulate the payments, if any, to be made for such cutting or pasturing;
6. (f) regulate or prohibit hunting, shooting, fishing, poisoning of water and setting traps or snares;
7. (g) regulate the sale or free grant of timber or other natural produce;
8. (h) specify the fees, royalties, or other payments for such timber or other natural produce and the manner in which such fees, royalties or other payments shall be levied. 1[(2) Whoever contravenes any rule made under subsection (1) shall be punishable.-
   • (i) in every case where any of the acts aforesaid relates to Red Sanders wood or Sandal wood or any scheduled tree shall upon conviction be punishable with imprisonment for term which may extend to ten years and fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees; provided that,-
9. (a) in case of first offence, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than five years and an amount of fine shall not be less than three lakh rupees; and
10. (b) in case of second and subsequent offences, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than seven years and an amount of fine shall not be less than five lakh rupees:
    • (ii) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend upto five years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees but which may extend to thirty thousand rupees: provided that,-
11. (a) in case of first offence, the term of imprisonment shall not be less than three months but which may extend upto three years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees; and
12. (b) in case of second and subsequent offences the term of imprisonment shall not be less than one year but which may extend up to five years with fine which shall not be less than thirty thousand rupees.]

1. (3) The Government may, by notification and for reasons to be recorded in writing, exempt any person or class of persons belonging to the