Insertion of new section

After section 52 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely-- "52-A procedure on seizure--(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, where a forest offence is believed to have been committed in respect of any forest produce, which is the property of the State Government, the officer seizing the property under sub-section

1. (1) of section 52 shall, without unreasonable delay, produce it together with all the tools, boats, vehicles, cattle, ropes, chains and other articles used in committing the offence before an officer, not below the rank of a Divisional Forest Officer, authorised by the State Government in this behalf, who may, for reasons to be recorded, make an order in writing with regard to custody, possession, delivery, disposal or distribution of such property, and in case of tools, boats, vehicles, cattle, ropes, chains and other articles, may also confiscate them.
2. (2) The authorised officer shall, without any undue delay, forward a copy of the order made under sub-section
3. (1) to his official superior.
4. (3) Where the authorised officer passing an order under sub-section
5. (1) is of the opinion that the property is subject to speedy and natural decay he may order the property or any part thereof to be sold by public auction and may deal with the proceeds as he would have dealt with such property if it had not been sold and shall report about every sale to his official superior.
6. (4) No order under sub-section
7. (1) shall be made without giving notice, in writing, to the person from whom the property is seized, and to any other person who may appear to the authorised officer to have some interest in such property : Provided that in an order confiscating a vehicle, when the offender is not traceable, a notice in writing to the registered owner thereof and considering his objections if any, will suffice.
8. (5) No order of confiscation of any tool, boat, vehicle, cattle, ropes, chain or other article shall be made if any person referred to in sub-section
9. (4) proves to the satisfaction of the authorised officer that any such tool, boat, vehicle, cattle, rope, chain or other article was used without his knowledge or connivance or without the knowledge or connivance of his servant or agent, as the case may be, and that all reasonable precautions had been taken against use of the objects aforesaid for the commission of the forest offence.