Investiture of forest Officers with certain powers

(1) The State Government may invest any Forest Officer by name, or as holding an office, with all or any of the following powers, namely: (a) power to enter upon any land and to survey, demarcate, and make a map of the same; (b) the powers of a Civil Court to compel the attendance of witness and the production of document and materials objects; (c) power to issue search-warrants under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. (1) The State Government may invest any Forest Officer with all or any of the following powers, that is to say:— (d) power to hold inquiries into forest offences, and in the course of such inquiries to receive and record evidence; (e) power to notify the seasons and manner in which fire may be kindled, kept or carried in a reserved forest; (f) power to grant any permission referred to in section 25 and 35; (g) power to notify stations for the reception of drift timber; (h) power to give public notice of timber collected under section 43; (i) power to take possession of property under this Act; and may withdraw any power so conferred; (j) power to direct the release of property or withdrawal of charges; (2) Any evidence recorded under clause (d) of sub-section (1) shall be admissible in any subsequent trial before a Magistrate of the alleged offender: Provided that it has been taken in the presence of the accused person and recorded in the manner provided by section 355, section 356 or section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.