The Indian Forest (Chhattisgarh Amendment) Act, 2014

'ffis fr€ + er<.fu sm g6t ilrq glrdn(fr<r sr*Eo-e)+ isor fu oqm rqifi fr.2-zz-Bds.rc rwe / rs fu. e. M, ft-{i-s 3o-05-2oor"" dGftfiscis 'ffire/gd/ oe | 20 t3 - zot s "" ffi {luilrEr (srsrqrur) urk*,R I r*,,rRd mci6 rro l rugr, guan, fuio zs u{ zots- Qs 7, rrs 1e37 frfu sfrffir*q,dftt{rrr riil-ffq, c-drff HEFI, irttt{rqgt {qgt, frci{ zs{$zots a;qissosz/d. roslzr-or/urs./o.rr./rs.-ofuEfurnqmorftrrfufuas{&fi-{f;&€qrfrqimzt-os -zotaal {qqnrqtiftcis rl-os-zors*1iEqftffqgqfturqdgfft,cd-{dnrF&ileTnqffqn-*.r$+ftqr*rRnfuqumt. eilqrrq * nqqm t am t aw enkrgvn, e. t. fit€rd, orftknqfuc.

ostr€rrq {rdq{, fi{iqt 28 x{ 2ol s udqrrq sr&Rqc (scis qzors) qrcfrq qq (gd{qq {sir{l wfufrqq, 261a qh {rrtfhd 6ri tg qfkf{qc. rrna qur<rq *M s{fr ud€rEftEnc!-€a am Frqftfua sq I qt erfrFrqka €t : - sftra 'rm, f{*<n l. (1) qe ef"Tfuqcqra$qfi (Bd1€rrdftifi) s{efiqq, i5-{cTlgrTl. aql vRc. (2) tcotts<nvqufede6{rqqt&n. (3) ft t$arffu i rgd dm ffi & uq swn $atr* fr efoqfir em ffq-d61. srtts,rE rrfl al z. e*sqB{rw+laqgesui mt&m eTfufoqq, :.q'27 (tszlq;t t6) Giq{tEs+q€q{d ar(ge sq I t*q eT&fiqq

• • 6q i ft€et) Bl gvfr w* q€r6qifud tft n €sftRrd frqrqrn. qfhFrfi ( 1e27 {I g- 16) 6r ssrlEr. qm zo qr dviq-n. :. qa or&ffqcff qrtr u o #sq-qnr (r)1, rre "q{ 6sREqa" * ernqr, rrq 'tscsnwi" qfrtqrE-dfrqrdra. qm :: or s'firrn. n. qowBftae#tTru::613q-trttt (l)i, rre "g+ csntq}" t trrnqt, rrq "qgaqnw}" qfuErfudfrqrdra. qm sr qr qriwr. s. qa erfuftwfi trnr stqlsq-uttt (2)l, {rq "qsEqRFqA" * tqn qt, rrq "<qe"m t.ra" qfr{qfudfrqrqrA.

(1) For sub-section (1) of section 52 of the Principal Act, the following shall be substituted, namely.- "(1) When there is reason to believe that a forest offence has been committed in respect of any reserved forest and protected forest or forest produce, the produce and all tools, boats, vehicles, ropes, chains or any other article used in committing such offence may be seized by any forest officer or police officer." (2) After sub-section (5) of Section 52 of the Principal Act, the following shall be added, namely.- "(6) The seized property shall continue to be under custody until confirmation of the order of the authorized officer by the Appellate Authority or until the expiry of the period for initiating 'suo moto' action by him whichever is earlier, as prescribed under Section 52-A. (7) Where the authorized officer having jurisdiction over the case is himself involved in seizure or investigation, the next higher authority may transfer the case to any other officer of the same rank for conducting proceedings under this Section."

After Section 66 of the Principal Act, the following shall be inserted.- "66-A. Attempt or abetment of an offence.- Any person who attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of any provision of this Act or the rules made there under shall be deemed to have contravened such provisons or rules."

For Section 68 of the Principal Act, the following shall be substituted, namely.- "68. Power to compound offences.- (1) The State Government may, be notification in the Official Gazette, empower a Forest-Officer.- (a) to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any forest offence, other than an offence specified in Section 62 or Section 63, a sum of money by way of compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed, and (b) when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same at any time before an order of confiscation is passed by the authorised officer on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer. (2) On the payment of such sum of money, or such value, or both, as the case may be, to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged, the property, if any, seized shall be released, and no further proceeding shall be taken against such person or property. (3) A Forest-officer shall not be empowered under this section unless he is a Forest-officer of a rank not inferior to that of a Ranger, and the sum of money accepted as compensation under clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall in no case be less than two times the value of the forest produce: Provided that in case the forest produce in respect of which an offence has been committed is not the property of the Government or in case the value of the forest produce is less than Rs. 1,000, the suspected person may be discharged and the property (other than the forest produce) and the vehicle and other articles used in commission of the offence may be released on the payment of the value of the property as estimated by the authorized officer (Forest-officer) not below the rank of Ranger, and no further proceeding shall be taken against such person or property."

In Section 76 of the Principal Act, for the words "rules under this Act" the words "rules made under the provisions of this Act" shall be substituted.