Vidhi Codex

THE KARNATAKA FOREST ACT, 1963

The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963

Environmental1963145 sections13 chapters

The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, is the primary legislation governing the management, protection, and conservation of forests within the state of Karnataka. It empowers the State Government to constitute reserved, village, and district forests, regulate the transit of forest produce, and control private forests to prevent degradation. The Act establishes a legal framework for forest offences, penalties, and the powers of forest officers. It is essential for citizens as it defines rights regarding forest access, grazing, and timber collection, while imposing strict penalties for unauthorized activities like encroachment, illegal felling, or poaching, ensuring the sustainable use of forest resources.

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Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

    Chapter II RESERVED FORESTS →

    1. 6Bar of accrual of forest rights
    2. 7Inquiry by Forest Settlement Officer
    3. 8Powers of Forest Settlement Officer
    4. 9Extinction of rights
    5. 10Treatment of claims relating to shifting cultivation
    6. 11Power to acquire land over which right is claimed
    7. 12Order on claims to rights of way or pasture or to forest produce or water
    8. 13Record to be made where claim is admitted
    9. 14Exercise of rights admitted
    10. 15Compensation for rights
    11. 16Appeal from order passed under section 11, section 12, section 14 or section 15
    12. 17Notification declaring forest a reserved forest
    13. 18Publication of notification
    14. 19Power to revise arrangements made under section 14 and to redefine the limits of reserved forests in certain cases
    15. 20No right acquired over reserved forest except as provided.
    16. 21Alienation of right in a reserved forest
    17. 22Power to stop ways and water courses in reserved forests
    18. 23Reserved forests constituted previous to passing of this Act
    19. 24Acts prohibited in reserved forests
    20. 25Acts excepted from section 24
    21. 26Privileges may be granted in reserved forests.
    22. 27Penalties for offences committed by persons having rights in reserved forests
    23. 28Power to declare forests no longer reserved forests

    Chapter III VILLAGE FORESTS →

    1. 29Constitution of village forests
    2. 30Power to make rules for village forests.
    3. 31Inquiry into and settlement of rights
    4. 31AConstitution of Village Forest Committee for Joint Forest Planning and Management of Forest.

    Chapter IV DISTRICT FORESTS →

    1. 32Power to grant privileges in district forests
    2. 33Power to make rules for district forests
    3. 34Suspension of rights in cases of fires caused wilfully or by gross negligence
    4. 35Minor forests constituted previous to the commencement of this Act

    Chapter V CONTROL OVER FORESTS AND LANDS NOT BEING THE PROPERTY OF THE →

    1. 36Interpretations
    2. 37Preservation of private forests
    3. 38Power to make rules
    4. 39Protection of forests for special purposes
    5. 40Appeals
    6. 41Penalties
    7. 42Bar of suits
    8. 43Power to assume management of forests
    9. 44Consequences of assumption of management
    10. 45Period of management
    11. 46Termination of management
    12. 47Government management of forests at request of owners
    13. 48Acquisition of forests in certain cases
    14. 49Power to remove difficulties

    Chapter VI CONTROL OF TIMBER AND OTHER FOREST PRODUCE IN TRANSIT →

    1. 50Power to make rules to regulate transit of forest produce
    2. 51The State Government and Forest Officer not liable for damage to forest produce at depot
    3. 52All persons bound to aid in case of accident at depot

    Chapter VII COLLECTION OF DRIFT AND STRANDED TIMBER →

    1. 53Certain kinds of timbers to be deemed property of State Government until title thereto proved
    2. 54Notice to claimants of drift timber
    3. 55Procedure on claim preferred to such timber
    4. 56Disposal of unclaimed timber
    5. 57State Government and its officers not liable for damage to such timber
    6. 58Payments to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him
    7. 59Power to make rules

    Chapter VIII CATTLE TRESPASS →

    1. 60Application of Cattle Trespass Act, 1871
    2. 61Power to alter fines fixed under that Act

    Chapter IX PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE →

    1. 62Seizure of property liable to confiscation
    2. 62APowers of Forest Officer in the matter of Investigation
    3. 62BReport by Investigation Officer
    4. 62CCertificate of Forest Officer to be an evidence
    5. 63Power to release property seized under section 62
    6. 64APenalty for unauthorisedly taking possession of land constituted as reserved forest, district forest, village forest, protected forest and any other land under the control of the Forest Department
    7. 65Forest produce, tools, etc., when liable to forfeiture
    8. 66Disposal, on conclusion of trial for forest offence, of produce in respect of which it was committed
    9. 67Procedure when offender is not known or cannot be found
    10. 68Procedure as to perishable property seized under section 62
    11. 69Appeal from orders under sections 65, 66 and 67
    12. 70Vesting of forefeited property in State Government
    13. 71Saving of power to release property seized
    14. 71AConfiscation by Forest Officers in certain cases
    15. 71BIssues of show cause notice before confiscation under section 71A
    16. 71CRevision
    17. 71DAppeal
    18. 71EAward of Confiscation not to interfere with other punishments
    19. 71FProperty confiscated when to vest in Government
    20. 71GBar of jurisdiction in certain cases
    21. 72Punishment for wrongful seizure
    22. 73Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees or timber and for altering boundary marks
    23. 74Power to arrest without warrant
    24. 75Power to release on a bond a person arrested
    25. 76Power to prevent commission of offence
    26. 76APrevention of Commission of offences etc
    27. 77Power to try offences summarily
    28. 78Operation of other laws not barred
    29. 79Power to compound offences
    30. 80Presumption that forest produce belongs to Government
    31. 81Compensation for damage caused by commission of offence
    32. 82Forfeiture of leases
    33. 82ACriminal liability of licencee for acts of servants
    34. 82BOffence by Companies etc

    Chapter X PROVISIONS RELATING TO SANDALWOOD →

    1. 83Forest rights of inamdars and other persons entitled to sandal trees
    2. 84Sandal trees exclusive property of Government
    3. 85Responsibility of occupants and holders of land for the preservation of sandal trees
    4. 86Penalty for offence in regard to sandalwood
    5. 87Regulation of sale and manufacture of sandalwood and sandalwood oil

    Chapter XI SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CATECHU →

    1. 88Definitions
    2. 89Felling, etc., of catechu trees without permission prohibited
    3. 90Felling, conversion or removal of catechu trees by the Forest or Revenue Department or by a person
    4. 91Application for permit for felling catechu trees
    5. 92Transport, etc., of catechu trees or timber without permit prohibited
    6. 93Purchase or transport of cutch without permit prohibited
    7. 94Manufacture of cutch to be carried on in specified places
    8. 95Maintenance of accounts
    9. 96Power of Revenue, Forest and Police Officers to search and seize property liable to confiscation
    10. 97Power to make rules
    11. 98Penalty

    Chapter XI-A FOREST DEVELOPMENT →

    1. 98AForest Development Tax
    2. 98BForest Development Fund
    3. 98CPower of State Government to exempt or reduce Forest Development fee

    Chapter XII MISCELLANEOUS →

    1. 99The State Government may invest Forest Officers with certain powers
    2. 100Removal of forest produce from inam lands
    3. 101Control over reserved trees
    4. 101AGrant of forest produce on seigniorage rate
    5. 101BSupply of forest produce under agreement by the State Government
    6. 102General powers to make rules
    7. 103Rules to be laid before State Legislature
    8. 104Penalties for Contravention of Act or rules
    9. 104ARestrictions on trade and transport of blackwood or Bite trees and timber thereof
    10. 104BCertain offences to be cognizable
    11. 104CAbetment
    12. 104DSpecial provision regarding bail
    13. 104FPersons not be released on probation
    14. 104GRemoval of persons convicted of certain offences
    15. 105Duty of persons bound by acts and rules to assist Forest Officers and Police Officers
    16. 106Management of forests which are the joint property of State Government and other persons
    17. 107Power of State Government to apply provisions of this Act to certain lands of State Government or local authority
    18. 108Failure to perform service for which a share in produce of Government forest is enjoyed
    19. 109Recovery of money due to Government
    20. 110Lien on forest produce for such money
    21. 111Land required under this Act to be deemed to be needed for a public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act
    22. 112Recovery of penalties due under bond
    23. 113Forest Officers deemed to be public servants
    24. 114Indemnity for acts done in good faith
    25. 114ASuits or prosecution in respect of acts done under colour of duty not to be entertained without sanction of the State Government
    26. 115Forest Officer not to trade
    27. 116Central Act No. 67 of 1957 to prevail
    28. 117Repeal and savings
    29. 118Power to remove difficulties

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