Lien on forest produce

87. (1) When any money referred to in section 86 is payable for or in respect of any forest produce, the amount thereof shall be deemed to be the first charge on such produce and such produce may be taken possession of by a forest officer duly empowered and may be retained by him until such amount has been paid.

1. (2) If such amount is not paid within the period of one month from the date of receipt of a notice for such amount, the forest officer may sell such produce by public auction and the proceeds of sale shall be applied first in discharging such amount.
2. (3) The surplus of sale proceeds of such public auction, if any, if not claimed within sixty days from the date of sale by the person entitled thereto, shall be forfeited to the Government : Provided that the Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, order the refund of such surplus sale proceeds to the person entitled thereto within the period of three years from the date of sale.