Persons bound to assist forest officer

85. Every person who, (i) exercises any right in a reserve forest, khasmal forest or gorucharan forest or any other forest land; or

1. (ii) is permitted to take any forest produce from such forest or forest land; or
2. (iii) cuts and removes timber; or
3. (iv) pastures cattle in any forest; or
4. (v) is employed by any of the persons hereinbefore mentioned in a village contiguous to such a forest; or
5. (vi) is employed by the Government; or
6. (vii) receives the emoluments from the Government for services performed to the community; shall be bound to furnish without unnecessary delay to nearest forest officer any information that he may possess regarding the occurrence of fire in or near such forest or commission of any forest offence and shall forthwith take steps,-

1. (a) to extinguish any forest fire in such forest or which he has knowledge or information;
2. (b) to prevent by any lawful means in his power any fire in the vicinity of such forest of which he has knowledge of or information from spreading to such forest and shall assist any forest officer demanding his aid;
3. (c) in preventing the commission of any forest offences; and
4. (d) when there is reason to believe that any such offences has been committed, in such forest, in discovering and arresting the offender.

1. (2) Any person who is required to act in accordance with sub-section (1) fails to do so without lawful excuse -
   • (a) to furnish information to the nearest forest officer;
   • (b) to take steps to extinguish any forest fire;
   • (c) to prevent spreading of fire;
   • (d) to assist any forest officer demanding his aid in preventing the commission of forest offence; shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with a fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees or with both.