Acts prohibited in such forests.

(1) Any person who, in a reserved forest- (a) trespasses, or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass; (b) causes any damage by negligence in felling, uprooting, converting any tree or cutting or dragging any timber; or (c) fells, uproots, girdles, lops, taps, or burns any tree, or part thereof, or strips off the bark or leaves from, or otherwise damages, the same; shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting court may direct to be paid. (1-A) Any person who- (a) makes and fresh clearing prohibited by section 5; or (b) sets fire to a reserved forest, or in contravention of any rules made by the State Government in this behalf, kindles any fire or leaves any fire burning in such manner, as to endanger such a forest, or who, in a reserved forest, - (c) kindles, keeps or carries any fire except at such seasons, as the Forest Officer may notify in this behalf; (d) quarries stone, burns lime or charcoal, or collects, subjects to any manufacturing process, or removes any forest produce; (e) clears or breaks up any land for cultivation or any other purpose; (f) in contravention of any rules made in this behalf by the State Government hunts, shoots, fishes, poisons water or sets traps or snares; or (g) indulges in any act detrimental to the very existence of the forest. shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting court may direct to be paid. (2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit: - (a) any act done by permission in writing of the Forest Officer, or under any rule made by the State Government; or (b) the exercise of any right continued under clause (c) of sub-Section (2) of Section 15 or created by grant or contract in writing made by or on behalf of the State Government under Section 23. (3) Whenever fire is caused willfully or by gross in a reserved forest, the State Government may (Notwithstanding that any penalty has been inflicted under this section) direct in such forest or any portion thereof the exercise of all rights of pasture or to forest produce shall be suspended for such period as it thinks fit, but no such order shall be passed without affording the persons concerned an opportunity to represent their case.