Bar to jurisdiction of Court in certain cases

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or any other law for the time being in force, whenever any forest produce, together with tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle are seized under sub-section (1) of section 15, the officer authorized under sub-section (5) of section 15 shall have, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any judgment, decree or order of any Court or Tribunal, the authorised officer shall have, and shall be deemed always to have had, jurisdiction, powers to the exclusion of any other Court, Tribunal or authority, to make orders with regard to the custody, possession, delivery, disposal, release, as the case may be, of such property in regard to which proceedings for confiscation are initiated in terms of sections 15, 15-A, and section 15-B. (2) Where any forest produce, together with tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle are seized under sub-section (1) of section 15, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), any officer authorized by an order of the State Government, shall have, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any judgment, decree or order of any Court or Tribunal or any other law for the time being in force, the authorized officer shall have, and shall be deemed always to have had, jurisdiction, powers to the exclusion of any other Court, Tribunal or authority to make orders with regard to the custody, possession, delivery, disposal, release, as the case may be, of such property in regard to which proceedings for confiscation are initiated in terms of sub-section (3) of section 15.