Prohibition of cultivation

1. (1) No person shall use or cause to be used any land with a slope of more than one in three for any purpose other than the growing of trees.
2. (2) No person shall use or cause to be used, any land with a slope of less than one in three for new cultivation except with the previous permission of the committee which may while granting such permission impose such conditions as it may be deem fit including those relating to soil conservation measures.
3. (3) No person shall, after the expiry of one year from the date on which this Act comes into force in any hill areas, use or cause to be used for cultivation any land in such hill area with a slope of less than one in three except with the previous permission of the committee which may, while granting such permission, impose such conditions as it may deem fit including conditions relating to soil conservation measures.
4. (4) Nothing contained in sub-section (2) and (3) shall apply to any land with a slope of less than one in ten.
5. (5) Application for permission - Every application for permission shall be made in writing to the committee and shall be in such form and shall contain such parti-culars as may be prescribed.
6. (6) Appeal - Any person aggrieved by an order refusing to grant permission under section 3 or section 4 may, within two months of the receipt of such order prefer, and appeal in writing to the Government and the Government shall after giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard pass such order thereon, as they may think fit.
7. (7) Penalty- Any person who is guilty of an offence under section 3 or section 4 or who contravenes any condition imposed in a permission granted under this Act, on conviction be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or both. (8). Forfeiture-Any Court convicting a person of any offence under section 7 may direct the forfeiture to Government of all tools and other articles used in the commission of the offence or which are the subject matter of the offence.

(9). ( * )

(10). Power of entry and inspection - The Committee may with a view to ascertaining whether there has been a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rule or order made there under at any time with or without its subordinates and servants enter into and inspect any place. (11). Cognizance of offences - No Court shall take cognizance of any offences punishable under section 7 except on a complaint in writing of the Committee. (12). Power to make rules - The Government may, by notification make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. (13). Saving - Nothing in this Act shall apply to the cutting or removal of any tree in accordance with section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) (14). Power to remove difficulties - If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, as occasion may require, by order do anything which appears to them to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty.