Punishment for illicit felling or disposal of forest produce

Whoever, being an officer primarily and directly in-charge for the preservation and maintenance of forest area or disposal of forest produce, having jurisdiction or concern with the forest area intentionally or knowingly permits, connives, abets or suffers on account of his omission to supervise, prevent or report the (i) illegal felling of trees or logs, or (ii) illegal girdling or tappings, or (iii) theft of wood, timber or bamboos or other forest produce, or (iv) illegal quarrying of stones, or (v) illegal burning of lime or charcoal from the area, for commercial purpose shall be punished with imprisonment of either description which shall be not less than one year but which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine: Provided that the Court may for any special reasons to be recorded in writing, impose a sentence of imprisonment of less than one year. Explanation.—The provisions of this section shall not make liable as an abettor, any person having nistar or any other rights under any law for the time being in force, or by any order made thereunder to remove or use any forest produce from a forest area. On the expiry of the period specified in the notice, the Collector shall consider the objections or suggestions, if any, received in relation to the notice, or otherwise and he may, if considered necessary, require any person who has filed any objection to present himself in person or through authorised agent with all relevent documents for oral hearing.