Penalties for trespass or damage in reserved forests and acts prohibited in such forests

Any person who (a) makes any fresh clearing prohibited by section 7 ; or (b) sets fire to a reserved forest, or kindles, or leaves burning, any fire in such manner as to endanger the same; or who, in a reserved forest,- (c) kindles, keeps or carries any fire except at such season and in such manner as the District Forest Officer may from time to time notify: (d) trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass; (e) fells, girdles, marks, lops, tops, uproots or burns any tree, or strips off the bark or leaves from, or otherwise damages, the same. (f) quarries stone, burns lime or charcoal, or collects, subject to any manufacturing process, or removes any forest produce; (g) clears, cultivates or breaks up any land for cultivation or any other purpose; or (h) In contravention of any rules made by the Government hunts, shoots, fishes, poisons water or sets traps or snares; (i) Damages, alters or removes any wall, ditch, embankment, fence hedge or railing; shall, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting court may direct to be paid, be punished:- (1) in any case where any of the acts aforesaid relates to any scheduled timber, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to twenty-thousand rupees; Provided that, (a) for a first offence, the term of such imprisonment shall not be less than two years and such fine shall not be less than Seven thousand and Five Hundred rupees: (b) for a second or subsequent offence the term of such imprisonment shall not be less than three years and such fine shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees; (2) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which may extent to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit Acts exempted from prohibition contained in this section (a) any act done in accordance with any rule made by the Government or with the permission in writing of the District Forest Officer, or of an officer authorized by him to grant such permission; or (b) the exercise of any right continued under section 12 or created by grant or contract in the manner described in section 18: Provided that this section shall not be held to interfere with such working of the forest as may be ordered by the District Forest Officer.