State Government or Agent to Purchase Specified Forest Produce

(1) The State Government or their authorised officer or agent shall be bound to purchase at the price fixed under Section 7 and specified forest produce offered for sale at the depot during the hours of business: Provided that it shall be open to the State Government or the authorised officer or the agent to refuse to purchase any specified forest produce which in their opinion is not fit for the purpose of consumption or use as raw-material for manufacture or for trade. (2) Any person aggrieved by the rejection of his specified forest produce by an authorised officer or agent under the provision to Sub-section (1), may, within fifteen days therefrom, refer the matter to the Divisional Forest Officer, or such other officer who may be empowered by the State Government in this behalf, having jurisdiction over the unit in which the specified forest produce has been grown or found. (3) On receipt of a reference under Sub-section (2) the Divisional Forest Officer or such other officer, as the case may be, shall hold an enquiry in the prescribed manner and after hearing the parties concerned may pass such orders as he may deem fit and in case he finds the rejection of the specified forest produce to be improper, may direct the authorised officer or agent as the case may be, to purchase the same and may also award to the person aggrieved such further compensation not exceeding thirty per centum of the price of the specified forest produce, payable to him as he may deem fit. (4) The State Government or its authorised officer or agent shall be entitled to take delivery of any specified forest produce collected by any person from land owned by the State Government or Government Forest on payment of such collection charges as may be determined by the State Government from time to time: Provided that it shall be open to the State Government or the authorised officer or agent to refuse to take delivery of any such forest produce which is not fit for consumption or use as raw material for manufacture or trade: Provided further that in the case of any dispute, the Divisional Forest Officer or such other officer who may be specifically empowered in this behalf as specified in Sub-section (2) shall hear and dispose of the same in the manner provided in this Act and the Rules made thereunder.