Vidhi Codex

THE KERALA FOREST ACT, 1961

The Kerala Forest Act, 1961

Environmental196176 sections1 chapters

This law governs the management and protection of forests within the state of Kerala. It empowers the government to declare specific land as Reserved Forests to conserve natural resources and wildlife. The legislation defines what constitutes forest produce, such as timber, animals, and minerals, and establishes rules for their collection and trade. It also creates a legal framework for forest officers to enforce these regulations and penalize any illegal activities like unauthorized felling of trees or poaching. By doing so, the Act aims to balance the state's ecological needs with the responsible use of its forest wealth.

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Chapter IV Chapter IV →

  1. 33On certain lands the breaking up or clearing for cultivation, etc., may be regulated or prohibited
  2. 36Protection of forests at request of owners
  3. 37Management of forests, the joint property of Government and other persons
  4. 38Persons employed to carry out the Act to be deemed Forest Officers
  5. 39Power to make rules to regulate trade and transit of timber and other forest produce
  6. 40Penalty for breach of rules made under section 39
  7. 41Holders of passes to produce the same for inspection
  8. 42Certain kinds of timber to be deemed property of Government until title thereto proved, and may be collected accordingly
  9. 43Notice to claimants of drift timber
  10. 44Procedure on claim preferred to such timber
  11. 45Disposal of unclaimed timber
  12. 46Payments to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him
  13. 47Power to make rules and prescribe penalties
  14. 49Punishments for killing, etc., wild elephants without authorisation
  15. 50Captured wild elephants and tusks and teeth of elephants killed, the property of Government
  16. 51Grant of permits for shooting or capturing of wild elephants
  17. 52Seizure of property liable to confiscation
  18. 53Power to release property seized under section 52
  19. 56Disposal on conclusion of trial for forest offence, of produce in respect of which it was committed
  20. 57Procedure when offender is not known
  21. 58Procedure as to perishable property seized under section 52
  22. 59Appeal from orders under sections 55, 56 and 57
  23. 60Property when to vest in Government
  24. 61Saving of power to release property seized
  25. 65Punishment for wrongful seizure or arrest
  26. 66Power to prevent commission of offence
  27. 67Operation of other laws not barred
  28. 68Power to compound offences
  29. 69Presumption that timber or forest produce belongs to Government
  30. 71Powers to alter fines fixed by that Act
  31. 72Investing Forest Officers with powers
  32. 73Forest Officers deemed public servants
  33. 74Indemnity for acts done in good faith
  34. 75Forest Officer not to trade
  35. 76Additional power to make rules
  36. 77Rules to be laid before the Legislative Assembly
  37. 78Liability of persons engaged by Forest Officers
  38. 79Recovery of money due to Government
  39. 80Lien on forest produce for such money
  40. 81Land required under this Act to be deemed needed for a public purpose
  41. 82Trees and timber standing on land granted for permanent cultivation
  42. 83Decision or order of Forest Settlement Officer to have the effect of District Court decrees
  43. 84Punishment for abetment
  44. 85Repeal
  45. 86Delegation of powers of Government

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