The Saurashtra Felling of Trees (Infliction of Punishment) ACT, 1951
The Saurashtra Felling of Trees (Infliction of Punishment) Act, 1951
The Saurashtra Felling of Trees (Infliction of Punishment) Act, 1951 regulates the unauthorized cutting, damaging, or appropriating of trees across the State of Gujarat. It applies to all individuals within the state, prohibiting anyone from felling or harming trees without written permission from an authorized officer, Collector, or Village Panchayat. Small exceptions exist, such as using babool branches for cleaning teeth. Unauthorized felling is punishable with fines up to one thousand rupees. The law empowers revenue officers to penalize offenders, direct fines to informers as rewards, confiscate property, and handle appeals. This legislation matters because it protects environmental resources and prevents deforestation by strictly controlling tree felling through government oversight and community reporting incentives.
- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- 2. Interpretation.
- 3. Unauthorised felling of trees prohibited.
- 4. Appeal.
- 4A. Procedure.
- 5. Provision of this Act to be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force.
- 6. Fine recoverable as arrear of land revenue.
- 7. Payment of portion of fine to informer.
- 8. Persons seeing tree or portion being felled to take felled tree or portion to nearest Revenue Officer.
- 9. Order of disposal of property.
- 10. Revisional power of Government.
- 11. Rules.
PDF: pending for this language.