Keywords : Protection and Management of Forests, Tree, Timber, Forest Produce, Minerals, Cattle, River, Reserved Forests, Sandal Wood

Amendments appended: 7 of 1919, 40 of 1965, 45 of 1979, 41 of 1981, 44 of 1992, 33 of 2002

AMIL NADU] FOREST ACT, 1882
CONTENTS
PREAMBLE
Sections
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1
1-A
2
Short title. Local extent. Commencement.
Chapters VI-A and VI-B to apply to the transferred
territory only.
Interpretation-clause.
CHAPTER II
RESERVED FORESTS
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
16-A
17
17-A
Power to reserve forests,
Notification by the Government.
Suits barred.
Proclamation by Forest-settlement-officer.
Bar of accrual of forest-rights, Prohibition of clearings,
etc.
Inquiry by Forest-settlement-officer.
Powers of Forest-settlement-officer.
Claims to rights of occupancy and ownership.
Admitted claims.
Rejected claims.
Appeals.
Claims to rights of way, water-course, pasture and to
forest produce.
Provision for rights of pasture or to forest-produce
admitted.
Commutation of such rights
Appeal from order passed under sections 11, 12 and 13.
Appeal under section 14.
Notification declaring forest reserved
Declaration of certain land to be a Reserved Forest.
Extinction of rights not claimed.
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Power of the Government to re-define the limits of
reserved forests in certain cases.
No right acquired over reserved forest except as here
provided.
Rights continued under section 12 not to be alienated
without sanction.
Power to stop ways and water-courses in reserved forest.
Penalties for trespass or damage in reserved forests, and
acts prohibited in such forests. Acts exempted from
prohibition contained in this section.
Suspension of rights in reserved forests.
Persons bound to assist Forest-officer and Police-officer.
Power to declare forest no longer reserved. Forests
reserved previous to the passing of this Act.
CHAPTER III
PROTECTION OF LAND AT THE DISPOSAL OF GOVERNMENT
NOT INCLUDED IN RESERVED FORESTS.
26
27
28
28-A
Power to make rules, Penalties for acts in contravention
of rules.
Power to close land against pasture.
Penalties.
Penalties for breach of rule made under section 26.
CHAPTER IV
OF THE CONTROL OVER FORESTS AND LANDS NOT AT THE
DISPOSAL OF GOVERNMENT OR IN WHICH GOVERNMENT
HAS A LIMITED INTEREST
29
30
31
32
On certain lands, the breaking up or clearing for
cultivation, etc., may be regulated or prohibited.
In case of refusal by owner, Government may take such
lands on lease or acquire them,
Acquisition of forest or land under the Land Acquisition
Act.
Protection of forests at request of owners.
33
34
Management of forests, the joint property of Government
and other persons.
Persons employed to carry out the Act to be deemed
Forest officers.
CHAPTER V
CONTROL OF TIMBER IN TRANSIT
35
35-A
35-B
36
Power to make rules to regulate transit of timber.
Power of Central Government as to movements of timber
across frontiers.
Penalties for breach of rules made under Section 35
Penalties for breach of rules made under sections 35 and
35-A.
CHAPTER V-A.
POSSESSION OF SANDALWOOD.
36-A
36-B
36-C
36-D
36-E
36-F
Possession of sandalwood under licence.
Form and conditions of licence,
Power to cancel or suspend licence.
Appeal.
Penalties
Rights and sale of sandalwood tree grown on private
lands
CHAPTER VI
THE FOREST COURT
37
38
39
40
Appointment and constitution of the Forest Court.
The Judge appointed to be the President.
Hearing of appeals.
Court to pass order which shall be final.
CHAPTER VI-A.
OF THE COLLECTION OF DRIFT AND STRANDED
TIMBER,
40-A
40-B
Certain kinds of timber to be deemed property of
Government until title thereto proved, and may be
collected accordingly.
Notice to claimants of timber collected under section 40-
40-C
40-D
40-E
40-F
A.
Procedure on claim preferred to such timber.
Disposal of unclaimed timber.
Payments to be made by claimant before timber is
delivered to him.
Power to make rules and prescribe penalties.
CHAPTER VI-B.
OF ROYALTIES.
40-G
40-H
40-I
40-J
40-K
40-L
40-M
40-N
40-O
40-P
40-Q
40-R
40-S
40-T
40-U
40-V
40-W
Royalties,
Notice of proposal to cut and remove royalty trees.
Joint mahazar to be prepared before removal of the trees.
Notice calling claims for kudivila. .
Inquiry by Forest-officer into claims for kudivila.
Award to be made after inquiry.
Reference to Court,
Forest-officer’s statement to Court.
Service of notice.
Scope of the inquiry.
Form of award by Court.
Tendering payment.
Forest-officer to carry out the Court’s awards as his own.
Bar of claims to kudivila.
Rules to be made by Government.
Punishment for felling, etc., trees which are royalties.
Other provisions not affected.
CHAPTER VII.
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE.
41
42
43
44
Seizure of property liable to confiscation. Report to
Magistrate.
Procedure thereupon.
Timber, forest-produce, tools, eto., when liable to
confiscation.
Disposal, on conclusion of trial for forest-offence, of
produce in respect of which committed.
45
46
47
48
49
49 – A
49 – B
49 – C
49 – D
49 – E
49 – F
49 – G
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Procedure when offender is not known or cannot be
found.
Procedure in regard to perishable property seized under
section 41.
Appeal from orders under section 43, 44 or 45.
Property when to vest in the Government.
Saving of power to release property seized.
Confiscation by Forest officers in certain cases
Issue of show cause notice before confiscation under sec 49-A
Revision
Appeal
Award of confiscation no bar for infliction
Property confiscated to vest with Government
Bar of jurisdiction in certain cases
Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees and
timber, and for altering boundary- marks.
Power to arrest without warrant.
Punishment for wrongful seizure or arrest.
Power to prevent commission of offense.
Operation of other laws not barred.
Power to compound offenses.
Presumption that timber or forest-produce belongs to the
Government. (56-A, 56-B, 56-C, 56-D, 56-E)
CHAPTER VIII
CATTLE-TRESPASS.
57
58
Cattle-trespass Act, 1871, to apply.
Power to alter fines fixed by that Act
CHAPTER IX.
FOREST-OFFICERS.
59
60
61
62
59 Government may invest Forest-officers with certain
powers.
Forest-officers deemed public servants.
Indemnity for acts done in good faith.
[Omitted].
CHAPTER X.
MISCELLANEOUS.
63
64
64-A
65
66
67
68
68-A
Additional powers to make rules.
Rules when to have force of law. Powers of Government
exercisable from time to time.
Rules to be placed before the Legislature.
Government may delegate powers.
Recovery of money due to Government.
Lien on forest-produce for such money. Power to sell
such produce.
Land required under this Act to be deemed to be needed
for a public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act.
Liability of person unauthorisedly occupying any land in
reserved forest, etc., to summary eviction.
1
(TAMIL NADU) ACT No. V OF 1882.
[THE 1
(TAMIL NADU) FOREST ACT, 1882]
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 17th September
1882, and of the Governor-General on the 11th October 1882, and
came into force on the 1st January 1883.)
An Act to make provision for the Protection and 4
[State of Tamil
Nadu].
WHEREAS it is expedient to make provision for Preamble the
protections and management of forests in the 4
[State of Tamil
Nadu]; It is hereby enacted as follows :-
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY

  1. This Act may be called the 1
    (Tamil Nadu) Forest Act, 1882.
    1
    [It extends to the whole of the 1
    (State of Tamil Nadu)]
    Provided that the 2
    (Government)] may, by notification in the
    4
    [Official Gazette], exempt any place from the operation of the whole
    or any portion of this Act but not so as to affect anything done, or
    any offence committed, or any fine or incurred, or any proceedings
    commenced in such place before such exemption, and may in like
    Preamble
    Short title
    Local Extent
    Commencement
    Chapters VI-A
    and VI-B to
    apply to the
  2. Substituted by A.O. 1969
  3. Substituted by A.O. 1957
  4. Substituted by A.O. 1950
  5. Inserted by TN Act 40 of 1965
    manner vary or cancel such notification;
    and it shall come into force on such day as the 2
    [Government]
    may by notification in the 3
    [Official Gazette] direct;

1
[1-A. The provisions of Chapters VI-A and VI-B shall apply only
to the transferred territory.]
transferred
territory only.

  1. In this Act, and in all rules made hereunder, unless there is
    something repugnant in the subject or context,-
    “Government” means the 1
    officer of a district:
    “Forest-Officer ” means any person appointed by name or as
    holding an office by or under the orders of the Government to be a
    Conservator, Deputy Conservator, Assistant Conservator, Extra
    2
    [Assistant Conservator], Forest-ranger, Forester, Forest-guard:
    or to discharge any function of a Forest-officer under this Act or
    any rule made hereunder :
    “District-Forest-officer ” means the chief Forest-officer of a district
    or of a portion of a district, if in independent charge of such portion:
    ” tree ” includes stumps, bamboos and brushwood:
    “timber” includes trees when they have fallen or have felled, and
    all wood, whether cut up or fashioned or hallowed out for any
    purpose or not :
    ““Scheduled timber” means any timber as specified in
    Schedule””
    “forest produce” includes the following things when found in, or
    brought from, a forest (that is to say) :-
    minerals (including limestone and surface-soil, trees, timber,
    plants, grass, peat, canes, creepers, reeds, fibres, leaves, moss,
    flowers, fruits, Seeds, roots, galls, spices, juice, catechu, bark,
    caoutchouc, gum, wood-oil, resin, varnish, lac, charcoal, honey and
    wax, skins, tusks, bones and horns:

1
[Explanation I- In the transferred territory, ” forest-produce” also
includes the following things, whether found in, or brought from, a
forest or not, that is to say:-
Interpretation
clause
“Government”
“Collector”
“Forest Officer”
“District Forest
Officer”
“Tree”
“Timber”
“forest produce”

  1. Inserted by TN Act 40 of 1965
  2. Substituted by A.O. 1957
    timber or trees which are specified to be royalties under section
    40-G.
    Explanation II – For the purpose of Explanation I, timber does
    not include any wood that has been wrought or fashioned such as
    doors, windows, articles of furniture and boxes;]
    “forest-offence” means an offense punishable under this Act or
    any rule made hereunder:
    “Cattle” includes elephants, camels, buffaloes, horses, mares,
    ponies, colts, fillies, mules, asses, pigs, rams, ewes, sheep, lambs,
    goats and kids:
    “river ” includes streams, canals, backwaters],creeks and other
    channels, natural or artificial:
    “land at the disposal of Government ” includes all unoccupied
    land, whether assessed or unassessed; but does not include land,
    the property of landholders as defined by section 1 of Act VIII of
    18652
    , Madras (namely) all person holding under sanad-i-milkiyat-iistimrar, all other zamindars, shrotriyamdars, jagirdars, inamdars
    and all persons farming lands from the above persons or farming
    the land-revenue under Government ; also all holders of land under
    raiyatwar settlements, or in any way subject to the payment of landrevenue direct to Government, and all other registered holders of
    land in proprietary right:

1
[Explanation – In the transferred territory, “land at the disposal
of Government” also includes all land occupied temporarily and all
land occupied without permission, whether assessed or
unassessed, but does not include land, the property of jenmies or
Devaswoms.]
“Magistrate” means a Magistrate of the first and second class, and includes a Magistrate of the third class when he is specially
empowered by Government to try forest-offences :
“imprisonment” means imprisonment of either description as
defined in the Indian Penal Code :

3,2“Scheduled Timber” means any timber as specified in the
schedule.
“Forest Offence”
“Cattle”
“River”
“Land at the
disposal of
Government”
“Magistrate”
“Imprisonment”
“Scheduled
Timber”

  1. Inserted by TN Act XL of 1965.
  2. Amended by TN Act XL of 1965.
  3. TN Act 44 of 1979.
  4. Substituted by A.O. 1957

1
[“transferred territory” means the Kanyakumari district and the
Shencottah taluk of the Tirunelveli district:] “Transferred
territory”
CHAPTER II
RESERVED FORESTS

  1. The 2
    [Government] may constitute any land at the disposal
    of Government a reserved forest in the manner hereinafter provided.
  2. Whenever it is proposed to constitute any land a reserved
    forest the 2
    [Government] shall publish a notification in the 4
    [Official
    Gazette] and in the official Gazette of the district-
    (a) specifying, as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of
    such land ;
    (b) declaring that it is proposed to constitute such land a
    reserved forest;
    (c) appointing an officer (hereinafter called the Forestsettlement-officer) to inquire into and determine the existence,
    nature and extent of any rights claimed by, or alleged to exist in
    favour of, any person in or over any land comprised within such
    limits, or to any forest-produce of such land, and to deal with the
    same as provided in this Chapter.
    The officer appointed under class (c) of this section shall
    ordinarily be a person other than a Forest-officer; but & Forestofficer may be appointed by the 2
    [Government] to attend on behalf
    of Government at the inquiry prescribed by this Chapter.
  3. Except as hereinafter provided, no Civil Court shall, between
    the dates of the publication of the notification under section 4 and of
    the notification to be issued under section 16, entertain any suit to
    establish any right in or over any land, or to the forest-produce of
    any land, included in the notification published under section 4.
  4. When a notification has been issued under section 4, the
    Forest-settlement-officer shall publish in the official Gazette of the
    district, and at headquarters of each taluk in which any portion of the
    land included in such notification is situate, and
    in every town and village in the neighborhood of such land, a
    Power to reserve
    forest
    Notification by
    the Government
    Suits barred.
    Proclamation by
    Forestsettlementofficer
  5. Inserted by TN Act XL of 1965.
  6. Substituted by A.O. 1957
    proclamation-
    (a) specifying, as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of
    the land proposed to be included within the reserved forest;
    (b) setting forth the substance of the provisions of section 7;
    (c) explaining hereinafter provided, will ensure of such forest;
    and
    (d) fixing a period not less than three months from the date of
    publishing such proclamation in the official Gazette of the
    district and requiring every person claiming any right
    referred to in section 4 either to present to such officer,
    within such period, a written notice specifying, or to appear
    before him within such period and state, the nature of such
    right and in either case to produce all documents in support
    thereof.
    The Forest-settlement-officer shall also serve notice to the
    same effect on every known or reputed owner or occupier of any
    land included in or adjoining the land proposed to be constituted a
    reserved forest, or on his recognized agent or manager. Such notice
    may be sent by registered post to persons residing beyond the limits
    of the district in which such land is situate.
  7. During the interval between the publication of such
    proclamation and the date fixed by the notification under section 16,
    no right shall be acquired in or over the land included in such
    proclamation, except under a grant or contract in writing made or
    entered into by, or on behalf of the Government, or by, or on behalf
    of, some person in whom such right, or power to create the same,
    was vested when the proclamation was published, or by succession
    from such person;
    and no fresh clearings for cultivation or for any other purpose
    shall be made on such land.
    No patta shall, without the previous sanction of the 1
    [Board of
    Revenue], be granted on behalf of Government in such land, and
    every patta granted without such sanction shall be null and void.
    Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit any act done
    Bar of accrual of
    forest rights
    Prohibition of
    clearings, etc.
  8. Substituted by A.O. 1950 Sec. TN Abolition of Board of Revenue Act 1980.
    with the permission in writing of the Forest-settlement-officer.
  9. The Forest-settlement-officer shall take down in writing all
    statements made under section 6, and shall inquire into all claims
    made under that section, recording the evidence in the manner
    prescribed by the Code of Civil Procedure1
    in appealable cases.
    The Forest-settlement-officer shall at the same time consider
    and record any objection which the Forest-officer (if any) appointed
    under soot ion 4 may make to any such claim.
  10. For the purpose of such inquiry the Forest-settlement-officer
    may exercise the following powers (that is to say):-
    (a) power to enter, by himself or any officer authorized by him
    for the purpose, upon any land, and to survey, demarcate
    and make a map of the same; and
    (b) the powers conferred on a Civil Court by the Code of Civil
    Procedure1
    for compelling the attendance of witnesses and
    the production of documents.
  11. In the case of a claim to a right in or over any land other
    than the following rights:-
    (a) a right of way;
    (b) a right to a water-course, or to use of water;
    (c) a right of pasture; or
    (d) a right to forest-produce;
    the Forest-settlement-officer shall pass an order specifying the
    particulars of such claim and admitting or rejecting the same wholly
    or in part.
    i. If such claim is admitted wholly or in part, the Forestsettlement-officer may
    (1) come to an agreement with the claimant for the surrender of
    the right; or (2) exclude the land from the limits of the proposed
    forests; or (3) proceed to acquire such land in the manner provided
    by the Land Acquisition Act, 18701
    .
    For the purpose of so acquiring such land-
    (i) the Forest-settlement-officer shall be deemed to be a
    Collector proceeding under the Land Acquisition Act, 18701
    ;
    Inquiry by Forest
    settlement
    officer
    Powers of Forest
    settlement
    officer
    Claims to rights
    of occupancy
    and ownership.
    Admitted claims
  12. Now Act 1 of 1894.
    (ii) the claimant shall be deemed to be a person interested and
    appearing before him in pursuance of a notice given under section 9
    of that Act;
    (iii) the provisions of the preceding sections of that Act shall be
    deemed to have been complied with; and
    (iv) the Forest-settlement-officer with the consent of the
    claimant, or the Court (as defined in the said Act) with the consent
    of the claimant and of the Collector of the district, may award
    compensation by the grant of right in or over land, or by the
    payment of money, or both.
    ii. If such claim is rejected wholly or in part, Rejected the
    claimant may, date of the order, prefer an appeal to the District
    Court in respect of such rejection only: Provided that the
    1
    [Government] may, on just and reasonable cause for the same
    being shown, extend the period for such appeal within such further
    period as may seem proper, and an order or endorsement under the
    signature of one of the Secretaries to Government shall be sufficient
    authority for the said Court to entertain such specified. If the Court
    decides that the claim or such part thereof as has been rejected
    should be admitted, the Forest-settlement-officer shall proceed to
    deal with it in like manner as if it had been in the first instance
    admitted by himself.
    iii. When a claim has been admitted in the first instance wholly
    or in part, a like appeal may be preferred on behalf of Government
    by the Forest- officer appointed under section 4, or other person
    generally or specially empowered by the Government in this behalf.
  13. In the case of a claim to rights of the kind specified in
    clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 10, the Forest-settlementofficer shall pass an order specifying the particulars of such claim as
    far as may be necessary to define the nature, incidents and extent
    of the rights claimed, and admitting or rejecting such claim wholly or
    in part.
    When a claim to any such right is admitted, if the right is for the
    beneficial enjoyment of any land or buildings, he shall record the
    Rejected claims
    – Appeals.
    Claims to rights
    of way, watercourse, pasture,
    and to forestproduce
  14. Substituted by A.O. 1950
    designation, position and area of such land, and the designation and
    position of such buildings.
    Where the right is a right to forest-produce, he shall also record
    whether the forest-produce obtained by the exercise of such right
    may be sold or bartered.
  15. When the Forest-settlement-officer has admitted wholly or in
    part, and recorded under section 11, a claim to a right of pasture or
    to forest-produce, he shall, as far as possible, provide for the
    exercise of such right-
    (a) by altering the limits of the proposed reserved forest so as to
    exclude land of sufficient extent, of a suitable kind, and in a locality
    reasonably convenient for the purposes of the claimant;
    (b) by recording an order continuing to the claimant s right of
    pasture or to forest-produce (as the case may be), subject to such
    rules as may be prescribed by the 1
    [Government].
    The order passed under clause (b) shall record, as far as
    practicable, the number and description of the cattle which the
    claimant is from time to time entitled to graze, the local limits within
    which, and the seasons during which, such pasture is permitted; or
    the quantity of timber or other forest-produce which the claimant
    is authorized to take or receive, the local limits within which, the
    season during which, and the mode in which, the taking of such
    produce is permitted; and
    such other particulars as may be required in order to define the
    extent of the right which is continued, and the mode in which it may
    be exercised.
  16. Whenever any right of pasture or to forest-produce admitted
    under section 11 is not provided for in one of the ways prescribed in
    section 12, the Forest- settlement-officer shall, subject to such rules
    as the Government may prescribe in this behalf, commute such right
    by paying a sum of money in lieu thereof, or, with the consent of the
    claimant, by the grant of rights in or over land or in such other
    manner as such officer thinks fit,
  17. The claimant, or the Forest-officer appointed under section
    Provision for
    rights of pasture
    or to forestproduce
    admitted.
    Commutation of
    such rights.
    Appeals from
    order passed
    1.Substituted by A.O. 1950
    4, or any other person generally or specially empowered by the
    Government in this behalf, may, within sixty days from the date of
    any order passed by the Forest-settlement-officer under sections
    11, 12 and 13, present an appeal from such order.
    to a Forest Court constituted as hereinafter provided, or, where
    no such Court is constituted, to such officer of the Revenue
    Department of not less than twelve years’ standing as the
    1
    [Government] may, from time to time, by notification in the 2
    [Official
    Gazette], appoint, by name or as holding un office, to hear appeals
    from such orders.
    In disposing of such appeals the Revenue-officer appointed as
    aforesaid shall be guided by the provisions of sections 39 and 40 of
    this Act.
  18. Every appeal under section 14 shall be made by petition in
    writing, and may be delivered to the Forest-settlement-officer, who
    shall forward it without delay to the appellate authority.
  19. When the following events have occurred, namely :-
    (a) the period fixed under section 6 for preferring claims has
    elapsed, and all claims (if any) made within such period have
    been disposed of by the Forest-settlement-officer; and
    (b) if such claims have been made, the period fixed by
    sections10 and 14 for appealing from the orders passed on
    such claims has elapsed, and all appeals (if any) presented
    within such period have been disposed of by the appellate
    authority; and
    (c) all proceedings prescribed by section 10 have been taken,
    and all lands (if any) to be included in the proposed forest,
    which the Forest-settlement-officer has, under section 10,
    elected to acquire under the Land Acquisition Act, 18701
    ,1
    have become vested in the Act Government under section
    16 of that Act;
    the 1
    [Government] may publish a notification in the 2
    [Official
    Gazette], specifying the limits of the forest which it is intended to
    reserve, and declaring the same to be reserved from a date to be
    under sections
    11, 12 and 13
    Appeal under
    section 14
    Notification
    declaring forest
    reserved
  20. Substituted by A.O. 1950
  21. Substituted by A.O. 1937
    fixed by such notification.
    The Forest settlement-officer shall, before the date so fixed,
    publish such notification in the manner prescribed for the
    proclamation under section 6.
    From the date so fixed, shah forest shall be deemed to be a
    reserved forest.

116-A. The Government may, by notification, declare any land in
a janmam estate, vested with the Government under the Gudalur
Janmam Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1969
(Tamil Nadu Act 24 of 1969) and determined as forest under that
Act, as reserved forest.

  1. Rights in respect of which no claim has been preferred
    under section 6 shall thereupon be extinguished, notification, the
    person claiming them has satisfied the Forest-settlement officer that
    he had sufficient cause for not preferring such claim within the
    period fixed under section 6; in which case the Forest-settlementofficer shall proceed to dispose of the claim in the manner
    hereinbefore provided.

2
[17-A. (1) Where the description of the limits of lower of the any
reserved forest notified under section 16 is defective or is not clear
in reference to existing facts, the 2
[Government] may, by notification
in the 3
[Official Gazette], declare their intention to redefine the limits
of such reserved forest so as to remove the defeat or to make the
description clear in reference to existing facts. Such notification shall
specify as nearly as possible the corrections which it is proposed to
effect to the limits of the reserved forest.
(2) On the issue of a notification under sub-section (1), the
District-forest-officer shall publish in the Official Gazette of the
district concerned and in such other manner as may be prescribed
by rules made in that behalf a notice-
(a) specifying the corrections proposed by the notification under
sub-section (1); and
(b) stating that any objections which may be made in person or
in writing to the District-forest-officer, within a period of thirty
Declaration of
certain land to
be a Reserved
Forest.
Extinction of
rights not
claimed
Powers of the
Government to
redefine the
limits of reserved
forests in certain
cases

  1. Inserted by TN Act 18 of 2019.
  2. Inserted by TN Act VII of 1936.
  3. Subs. by A.O. 1950.
  4. Subs. by A.O. 1937.
    days from the date of publication of the notice, will be
    considered by him.
    (3) After the expiry of the period referred to in clause (b) of subsection (2) and after considering the objections, if any, received by
    him, the District-forest-officer shall submit to the Government] the
    record of the proceedings held by him together with a report
    thereon.
    (4) The 1
    [Government] may, after considering the report of the
    District-forest-officer, by notification in the 1
    [Official Gazette]
    redefine the limits of the reserved forest, as proposed by the
    notification under sub-section (1), with such modifications as they
    think fit or without any modifications.
    (5) Save as provided in this section, it shall not be necessary to
    follow the procedure laid down in sections 4 to 16 before issuing a
    notification under sub-section (4).]
  5. No right of any description shall he acquired in or over a
    reserved forest, except under a grant or contract in writing made by
    or on behalf of the Government, or by or on behalf of some person
    in whom such right, or the power to create such right, was vested
    when the notification under section 16 was published or by
    succession from such person :
    Provided that no patta shall without the previous sanction of the
    2
    [Board of Revenue] be granted on behalf of Government for any
    land included within a reserved forest, and every patta granted
    without such sanction shall be null and void.
  6. Notwithstanding anything herein contained, no right
    continued under section 12 shall be alienated by way of grant, sale,
    lease, mortgage or otherwise without the sanction of the
    Government: Provided that, when any such right is continued for the
    beneficial enjoyment of any land or buildings, it may be sold or
    otherwise alienated with such land or buildings without such
    Sanction. Any alienation of such right in contravention of this section
    shall be null and void.
    No forest-produce obtained in exercise of any right. Continued
    No right
    acquired over
    reserved forest
    except as here
    provided.
    Rights continued
    under section 12
    not to be
    alienated without
    sanction.
  7. Subs. by A.O. 1950
  8. Now abolished by TN Act 1 of 1980.
    under section 19 shall be sold or bartered except to the extent
    defined by the order recorded under sections 11 and 12.
    Any person selling or bartering any forest-produce in
    contravention of this section shall be punished with fine which may
    extend to two hundred rupees.
  9. The District-forest-officer may, from time, to time, with the
    previous sanction of the Government, stop any public or private way
    or water-course in a reserved forest : Provided that a reasonably
    convenient substitute for the way or water-course so stopped
    already exists, or has been provided or constructed in lieu thereof.
  10. 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, taps, 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, subjects
    to any manufacturing process, or removes any forestproduce;
    (g) clears, cultivates or breaks up any land for
    cultivation or any other purpose; or
    (h) in contravention of any rules made by the 1
    [Government]
    hunts, shoots, fishes, poisons water or sets traps or snares;
    (i) damages, alters or removes any wall, ditch, embankment,
    fence, hedge or railing;

1
[shall, damage done to the forest as the convicting court may
direct to be paid, be punished –
(1) 2
in any case where any of the acts aforesaid relates to any
Power to stop
ways and water
courses in
reserved forest.
Penalties for
trespass or
damage in
reserved forests,
and acts
prohibited in
such forest.

  1. Subs. by TN Act XLV of 1979.
  2. Subs by TN Act XXXVI of 1961
    scheduled timber, with imprisonment for a term which may
    extend to 1
    [five years] and with fine which may extend to
    1
    [twenty thousand rupees].
    Provided that, –
    (a) for a first offence, the term such imprisonment shall not be
    less than 1
    [two years] and such fine shall not be less than
    1
    [seven thousand five hundred rupees];
    (b) for a second or subsequent offence the term of such
    imprisonment shall not be less than 1
    [three years] and such
    fine shall not be less than 1
    [fifteen thousand rupees].
    (2) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which may
    extend 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-
    (a) any act done in accordance with any rules made by the
    Government or with the permission in writing of the Districtforest-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.
  3. Whenever fire is caused wilfully or negligently in a reserved
    forest, the Government may (notwithstanding that a penalty has
    been inflicted under section 21) direct that in such forest or any
    portion thereof the exercise of all rights of pasture or to forestproduce shall be suspended for such period as it thinks fit.
  4. Every person who exercises any right in a reserved forest, or
    who is permitted to take any forest-produce from, or to cut and
    remove timber or to pasture cattle in, such forest; and
    every person who is employed by any such person in such
    forest; and
    every village-officer or person in any village contiguous to such
    Acts exempted
    from prohibition
    contained in this
    section.
    Suspension of
    rights in
    reserved forests
    Persons bound
    to assist Forest
    officer and
    Police-officer
  5. Subs. by TN Act 44 of 1992.
    forest who is employed by the Government;
    shall be bound to furnish without unnecessary delay to the
    nearest Forest-officer or Police-station-house-officer any information
    he may possess respecting the occurrence of a fire in or near such
    forest or the commission of, or intention to commit, any forest
    offence; and shall assist any Forest-officer or Police-officer
    demanding his aid-
    (a) in extinguishing any fire occurring in such forest;
    (b) in preventing any fire which may occur in the vicinity of such
    forest from spreading to such forest;
    (c) in preventing the commission in such forest of any forestoffence; and
    (d) when there is reason to believe that any such offence has
    been committed in such forest, in discovering and arresting
    the offender.
  6. The Government may 1
    [* * *] by notification in the 2
    [Official
    Gazette] direct that, from a date to be fixed by such notification, any
    forest or any portion thereof reserved under this Act shall cease to
    be reserved.
    From the date so fixed such forest or portion shall cease to be
    reserved: but the rights (if any) which have been extinguished
    therein shall not revive in consequence of such cessation.
  7. The Government may, by notification in the 2
    [Official
    Gazette], declare any forest which has been reserved by order of
    the Government previous to the day on which this Act comes into
    force to be a reserved forest under this Act:
    Provided that if the rights of the Government or of private
    persons to or over any land or forest-produce in such forest have
    not been inquired and recorded in a manner which the Government
    thinks sufficient, the same shall be inquired into, settled and
    recorded in the manner provided by this Act for reserved forests,
    before the date on which the notification declaring the forest to be
    reserved takes effect.
    All questions decided, orders issued and records prepared in
    Power to declare
    forest no longer
    reserved
    Forests reserved
    previous to
    passing of this
    Act.
  8. Omitted by A.O. 1937
  9. Subs. by ibid.
    connection with the reservation of such forest shall be deemed to
    have been decided, issued and prepared hereunder, and the
    provisions of this Act relating to reserved forests shall apply to such
    forest.
    CHAPTER III
    PROTECTION OF LAND AT THE DISPOSAL OF GOVERNMENT
    NOT INCLUDED IN RESERVED FOREST
  10. Subject to all rights now legally vested in individuals and
    communities, the Government may for any district or portion of a
    district make rules to regulate the use of the pasturage or of the
    natural produce of land at the disposal of Government and not
    included in a reserved forest. Such rules may, with respect to such
    land,-
    (a) regulate or prohibit the clearing or breaking up of land for
    cultivation or other purposes;
    (b) regulate or prohibit the kindling of fires, and prescribe the
    precautions to be taken to prevent the spreading of fires;
    (c) regulate or prohibit the cutting, sawing, conversion and
    removal of trees and timber, and the collection and removal
    of natural produce;
    (d) regulate or prohibit the quarrying of stone, the boiling of
    catechu, or the burning of lime or charcoal;
    (e) regulate or prohibit the cutting of grass and pasturing of
    cattle, and regulate the payments (if any) to be made for
    such cutting or pasturing;
    (f) regulate or prohibit hunting, shooting, fishing, poisoning
    water and setting traps or snares;
    (g) regulate the sale or free grant of timber or other natural
    produce; and
    (h) prescribe the fees, royalties or other payments for such
    timber or other natural produce, and the manner in which
    such fees, royalties or other payments shall be levied.
    Provided that the Government may exempt any person or class
    Power to make
    rules
    of persons from the operation of all or any of such rules.

1
[Omitted]

  1. Whenever fire is caused wilfully or negligently in any land to
    which all or any of the rules made under section 26 have been
    extended, the 2Government may, notwithstanding that a penalty has
    been inflicted under that section, direct that such land be closed
    against pasture for such period as it thinks fit :
    Provided that an area sufficient in extent and in a locality
    reasonably convenient is left open for the use of persons having
    rights of pasture in such land.
  2. Whoever pastures cattle or permits cattle to trespass in land
    closed under section 27 shall be punished with imprisonment for a
    term which may extend to one month, hundred rupees, or with both.

128.A Whoever infringes any rules made under section 26 shall
be punished, –
(1) in any case where such infringement relates to any
scheduled timber, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to
1
[five years] and with fine which may extend to 1
[twenty thousand
rupees] :
Provided that,
(a) for a first offence, the term of such imprisonment shall not be
less than one year and such fine shall not be less than
1
[seven thousand five hundred rupees] ;
(b) for a second or subsequent offence, the term of such
imprisonment shall not be less than 2
[three years] and such
fine shall not be less than 2
[fifteen thousand rupees];
(2) in any other case, with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred
rupees, or with both.
Penalties for
acts in
contravention of
rules.
Power to close
land against
pasture.
Penalties
CHAPTER IV
OF THE CONTROL OVER FORESTS AND LANDS NOT AT THE
DISPOSAL OF GOVERNMENT OR IN WHICH GOVERNMENT
HAS A LIMITED INTEREST

  1. The 3
    [Government] may from time to time, by notification in On certain lands,
  2. Subs by TN Act 45 of 1979
  3. Subs by TN Act 44 of 1992
  4. Subs by A.O. 1950
    the 1
    [Official Gazette] and in the official Gazettes of the districts
    affected thereby, regulate or prohibit in any forest waste-land not at
    the disposal of Government –
    (a) the breaking up or clearing of land for cultivation:
    (b) the pasturing of cattle;
    (c) the firing or clearing of the vegetation; when such regulation
    or prohibition appears to be necessary for any of the
    following purposes :-
    first, for protection against storms, winds, rolling stones, floods
    and avalanches;
    second, for the preservation of the soil on the ridges and slopes,
    and in the valleys, of hilly tracts, the prevention of landslips and of
    the formation of ravines and torrents and the protection of land
    against erosion, or the deposit thereon of sand, stones or gravel;
    third, for the maintenance of a water-supply in springs, rivers
    and tanks;
    fourth, for the protection of roads, bridges, railways and other
    lines of communication;
    fifth, for the preservation of the public health; and may alter or
    cancel such notification.
    The Government may, for any such purpose, construct at their
    own expense, in or upon any such forest or land, such works as
    they think fit:
    Provided that no such notification shall be made or work begun
    until after the issue of a notice to the owner of such forest or land
    calling upon him to show cause, within a reasonable period to he
    specified in such notice, why such notification should not be made
    or work constructed, and until his objections (if any) and any
    evidence he may produce in support of the same have been heard
    by an officer duly appointed in that behalf, and have been
    considered by the Government.
  5. Whenever the owner of such forest or land may decline to
    comply with the regulations or directions contained in the said
    notification, it shall be incumbent upon the Government, if they
    the breaking up
    or clearing for
    cultivation, etc.,
    may be
    regulated or
    prohibited
    In case of
    refusal by
    owner,
    Government
  6. Subs by A.O. 1937
    Central Act X
    of 1870.
    Central Act X
    of 1870.
    resolve to assume control of the said forest or land, to take the said
    forest or land, or so much of it as they may see fit, on lease from the
    owner for such term as they may deem it necessary to retain the
    same under control, and the owner shall be bound either to
    conclude such lease with the Government or to require that such
    forest or land shall be acquired for public purposes, such land and in
    the latter event the Government shall acquire such forest or land
    accordingly. If such lease is agreed upon, the amount of annual rent
    to be reserved, and all other questions arising between the owner or
    persons claiming to be owners and the Government, shall, in case
    of dispute, be determined in accordance, so far as may be, with the
    provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 18701
    .
  7. In any case under this Chapter in which the Government
    consider that, in lieu of taking the forest or land under its control, the
    same should be acquired for public purposes, the Government may
    proceed to acquire it in the manner prescribed by the Land Act
    Acquisition Act, 18701
    .
  8. The owner of any land or, if there be more than one owner
    thereof, the owners of shares therein, whether divided or not,
    amounting in the aggregate owners, to at least two-thirds thereof,
    may, with a view to the formation or conservation of forests thereon
    represent in writing to the Collector their desire –
    (a) that such land be managed on their behalf by the District
    Forest Officer, as a reserved forest, on such terms as may
    be agreed upon; or
    (b) that such land be managed subject to the control of the
    Collector by a person appointed by themselves and
    approved by the Collector; or
    (c) that all or any of the provisions of this Act or rules made
    there under be applied to such land.
    The Government may in any such case, by notification in the
    2
    [Official Gazette], apply to such land such provisions of this Act as
    it thinks suitable to the circumstances thereof and as may be
    desired by the applicants.
    may take such
    lands on lease
    or acquire them.
    Acquisition of
    forest or land
    under the Land
    Acquisition Act
    Protection of
    forest at request
    of owner
  9. Now Land Acquisition Act, 1894
  10. Subs by A.O. 1937
    Any such notification may be altered or cancelled by a like
    notification.
  11. If the Government and any person or persons are jointly
    interested in any forest or waste-land, or in the whole or any part of
    the produce thereof, the Government may either-
    (a) undertake the management of such forest, waste-land or
    produce, accounting to such person for his interest in the
    same; or
    (b) issue such regulations for the management of the forest,
    waste-land or produce by the persons so jointly interested as
    it deems necessary for the management thereof and the
    interests of all parties therein.
    When the Government undertakes, under clause (a) of this
    section, the management of any forest, waste-land or produce, it
    may, by notification in the 1
    [Official Gazette] and in the official
    Gazette of the district, declare that any of the provisions contained
    Chapters II and III of this Act shall apply to such forest, waste-land
    or produce, and thereupon such provisions shall apply accordingly.
  12. All persons employed under sections 30, 32 and 33 to carry
    out the provisions of this Act shall be deemed to be Forest-officers
    within the meaning of this Act.

2
[The 3
(Government) shall also have power to appoint any
person to discharge any function of a Forest-officer under any of the
provisions of this Act which have been extended to any land or to
any forest or waste-land or produce thereof by a notification under
section 32 or section 33 or under any rule made in pursuance of any
provision so extended.]
Management of
forests, the joint
property of
Government and
other persons.
Persons
employed to
carry out the Act
to be deemed
Forest-officers
CHAPTER V.
CONTROL OF TIMBER IN TRANSIT

  1. The 3
    [Government] may make rules to regulate rules to
    regulate the transit of all timber or of certain classes of timber transit
    of timber within local limits as may appear to be necessary. Such
    rules may (among other matters) –
    (a) prescribe the routes by which alone timber may be imported
    Power to make
    rules to regulate
    transit of timber
  2. Subs by A.O. 1937
  3. Added by TN Act 7 of 1936
  4. Subs by A.O. 1950
    into and exported from the 1
    [State of Tamil Nadu];
    (b) prohibit the import and export or moving within defined local
    limits of timber without a pass from the landholder from
    whose lands it was brought, or from an officer duly
    authorized to issue the same or otherwise than in
    accordance with the conditions of such pass.
    (c) prescribe the form of such passes and provide for their
    issue, production and return;
    (d) provide for the stoppage, reporting, examination and
    marking of timber in transit within defined local limits or at
    stations established ns hereinafter provided;
    (e) establish, or authorize the Collector to establish stations to
    which such timber shall be taken by those in charge of it for
    examination or marking; and the conditions under which
    such timber shall be brought to, stored at, and removed from
    such station;
    (f) provide for the management and control of such stations,
    and for regulating the appointment and duties of persons
    employed thereat;
    (g) authorize the transport of timber, the property of
    Government, across any land, and provide for the payment
    of compensation for any damage done by the transport of
    such timber;
    (h) prohibit the closing up or obstructing of the channel or banks
    of any river used for the transit of timber or other forestproduce and the throwing of grass, brushwood, branches
    and leaves into any such river, or any act which may cause
    such river to be closed or obstructed;
    (i) provide for the prevention and removal of any obstruction of
    the channel or banks of any such river, and for recovering
    the cost of such prevention or removal from the person, or
    by the sale of any timber, causing such obstruction;
    (j) provide for the protection of bridges, locks or other public
    works, by regulating the floating of timber and the storing of
    timber on river banks and by authorizing the seizure of
    timber floated or stored in contravention of such rules or by
    which any damage to such works may have been caused,
    and the detention and disposal of such timber until
    compensation has been made for the damage done;
    (k) regulate the use of property-marks for timber and the
    registration of such marks; declare the circumstances in
    which the registration of any property-marks may be refused
    or cancelled; prescribe the time for which such registration
    shall hold good limit the number of such marks that may be
    registered by any one person; and provide for the levy of
    fees for such registration.
    (l) 1
    [provide for the maintenance of accounts in respect of any
    scheduled timber stored in private lands, depots, markets or
    factories, for industrial or commercial purposes.]
    35-A. Notwithstanding anything in section 35, the Central
    Government may make rules to prescribe the imported and
    exported across any customs frontier as defined by the Central
    Government and any rules made under section 35 shall have effect
    subject to the rules made under this section.

2
[35-B. Whoever infringes any rules, in relation to any
scheduled timber, made under section 35 [not being a rule made
under clause (a) of that section] shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3
[five years] and with
fine which may extend to 3
[twenty thousand rupees]:
Provided that, –
(a) for a first offence, the term of such imprisonment shall not
be less than 3
[two years] and such fine shall not be less
than 3
[seven thousand rupees];
(b) for a second offence or subsequent offence, the term of
such imprisonment shall not be less than 3
[three years] and
such fine shall not be less than 3

[fifteen thousand rupees;]

  1. The 4
    [Central or, as the case may be, State Government]
    may, by such rules, prescribe as penalties for the infringement
    Power of
    Central
    Government as
    to movements of
    timber across
    frontiers.
    Penalties for
    breach of rules
    made under
    section 35 in
    respect of
    scheduled
    timber.
    Penalties for
    breach of rules
  2. Subs by TN Act 36 of 1961
  3. Subs by TN Act 45 of 1979
  4. Subs by TN Act 44 of 1992
  5. Subs by A.O. 1950
    thereof imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or
    fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or both.

2
[Omitted]
In cases where the offence is committed after sunset and
before sunrise, or after making preparation for resistance to the
execution of any law or any legal process, or where the offender has
been previously convicted of a like offence, the convicting
Magistrate may inflict double the penalty prescribed for such
offence.
made under
sections 35 and
35-A.
1
[CHAPTER V-A.]
POSSESSION OF SANDALWOOD.
36-A. No person shall have in his possession any quantity of
sandalwood in excess of five kilograms, unless under a licence
granted by the District Forest Officer in that behalf or unless such
sandalwood is affixed by a Forest officer with such mark and in
such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that the District Forest officer may refuse to grant or
renew a licence to any applicant or licensee in respect of whom he
is satisfied that by reason of his conviction of an this Act or the rules
thereunder, or the previous cancellation or suspension of any
licence granted thereunder, or the contravention of any of the
requirements as to the possession of sandalwood, or for any other
reasons which may be prescribed, he is not a fit person to whom a
licensee should be granted or renewed under this section. Every
such order shall be communicated to the applicant or the licensee,
as the case may be, as soon as possible.
36-B. The Government may make rules to provide for-
(a) the form and manner in which application for licences may
be made;
(b) the terms and conditions which may be included in any
licence and the fees for the grant of such licence;
(c) the grant of duplicate licence and the renewal licences and
fees for the same.
Possession of
sandalwood
under licence
Form and
conditions of
licence
36-C. The District Forest officer may cancel or suspend any
licence granted under this Chapter if it appears to him, after giving
the holder thereof an opportunity of being heard, that the licensee
has contravened, or failed to comply with, any of the provisions of
this Act or the rules made thereunder or any of the terms or
conditions of the licence.
36-D. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the District
Forest officer refusing to grant or renew or cancelling or suspending
a licence Chapter may, within such time as may be prescribed,
appeal to the Collector, and the Collector may make such order in
the case as he may think fit.
36-E.Whoever, in contravention of this Chapter or of any rule
made or licence granted thereunder, possesses sandalwood, shall
be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1
[five
years] and with fine which may extend to 1
[twenty thousand rupees]:
Provided that, –
(a) for a first offence, the term of such imprisonment shall not be
less than 1
[two years] and such fine shall not be less than
1
[seven thousand and five hundred rupees];
(b) for a second offence or subsequent offence, the term of such
imprisonment shall not be less than 1
[three years] and such
fine shall not be less than 1

[fifteen thousand rupees;]

236-F. (1) Every person who grows sandalwood tree on any
patta land held by him as owner, tenant. lessee, mortgagee with
possession or otherwise, shall be the owner of such sandalwood
tree.
(2) No sandalwood tree grown on any patta land shall be sold
or otherwise alienated to any person other than the Government:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply
to the sale on alienation of any sandalwood tree at any auction held
by the Government.
(3) The Government may make rules for the purpose of.-
(a) prescribing the form and the manner in which application
for sale of sandalwood tree to the Government shall be
Power to cancel
or suspend
licence
Appeal
Penalties
Rights and sale
of sandalwood
tree grown on
private lands

  1. Subs by TN Act 44 of 1992
  2. Inserted by TN Act 33 of 2002
    made.
    (b) verification of ownership of sandalwood tree on patta land:
    (c) extraction and processing of sandalwood tree grown on
    patta land:
    (d) fixation of price of sandalwood tree grown on patta land
    and payment to he owners of such sandalwood tree.]
    CHAPTER VI.
    THE FOREST COURT.
  3. Where no revenue-officer has been appointed to hear
    appeals under section 14, the 1
    [Government] shall, from time to
    time, as occasion may arise, appoint a Forest Court to hear such
    appeals. The Court shall consist of three members, of whom
    one shall be the Judge of the Court of any district in which any
    portion of the land, the rights in or over which are in dispute, is
    situated, or presiding in jurisdiction of such district,
    another shall be the Collector of any such district, or an officer
    of the Revenue Department of not less than twelve years standing,
    and the third member shall be a person specially selected by
    the 1
    [Government], not holding an office of profit in the service of the
    Government.
  4. The Judge appointed a member as aforesaid shall be the
    President of the said Court, and shall make all such orders in the
    case as may be necessary prior to the hearing of the appeal.
    The official members of the Court may be appointed by name or
    as holding an office.
  5. For the hearing of appeals, the Forest Court shall fix a day
    and a convenient place in the neighbourhood of the land regarding
    which, or regarding rights over which, a dispute exists, and shall
    give notice thereof to the parties.
    All cases before the Forest Court shall be heard and disposed
    of, so far as may be, in accordance with the provisions of the Code
    of Civil Procedure:
    Provided that if, on the hearing of any such case, any question
    of law or of usage having the force of law, or the construction of a
    Appointment and
    constitution of
    the Forest Court
    The Judge
    appointed to be
    the President
    Hearing of
    Appeals.
    document affecting the merits of the case, shall arise on which the
    Court shall entertain reasonable doubts, the Court may, either of its
    own motion or on the application of any of the parties,, draw up a
    statement of the case, and submit it, with its own opinion, for the
    opinion of the High Court.
    And it shall be the duty of the Forest Court to make such
    reference to the High Court if the questions involve any principle of
    general importance or affect the rights of a class.
  6. At the conclusion of the inquiry, and after receipt of the
    order of the light Court (which shall be binding upon the forest
    Court) upon the reference (if any) prescribed by the preceding
    section, the Forest Court shall proceed to pass such order in the
    Case as it may consider just and proper; and the order passed by
    the said Court or by the majority of the members of the said Court
    shall be final.
    Court pass order
    which shall be
    final.
    1
    [CHAPTER VI-A.]
    OF TILE COLLECTION OF DRIFT AND STRANDED
    TIMBER.
    40-A. (1) All timber found adrift, beached, stranded or sunk,
    all timber bearing marks which have not been registered under the
    rules made under section 35 or on which the marks have been
    obliterated, altered or defaced by fire or otherwise, and in such
    areas as the Government may direct, all unmarked timber shall be
    deemed to be the property of Government unless and until any
    person establishes his right and title thereto, as provided in this
    Chapter.
    (2) Such timber may be collected by any Forest- officer or
    other person entitled to collect the same by virtue of any rule made
    under section 40-F and may be brought to such station as the
    Forest-officer may from time to time notify as a station for the
    reception of drift timber.
    (3) The Government may, by notification in the Official
    Gazette, exempt any class of timber from the provisions of this
    section and may, in like manner, withdraw such exemption.
    Certain kinds of
    timber to be
    deemed property
    of Government
    until title thereto
    proved, and may
    be collected
    accordingly.
    40-B. Public notice shall, from time to time, be given by the
    Forest-officer of timber collected under section 40-A. A copy of
    such notice shall also be published in the Official Gazette and in the
    Official. Gazette of the district. Such notice shall contain a
    description of the timber, and shall require any person claiming the
    same to present to such officer, within a period not less than two
    months from the date of such notice, a written statement of such
    claim.
    40-C.(1) When any such statement is presented as aforesaid,
    the Forest-officer may, after making to such inquiry as he thinks fit,
    either reject the claim after recording his reason for so doing, or
    deliver the timber to the claimant.
    (2) If such timber is claimed by more than one person,
    the Forest-officer may either deliver the same to any such person
    whom he deems entitled thereto, or may refer the claimants to the
    Civil Court, or retain the timber pending the receipt of an order from
    any such Court for its disposal.
    (3) Any person whose claim has been rejected under this
    section may, within four months from the date of such rejection,
    institute a suit to recover possession of the timber claimed by him,
    but no person shall recover any compensation or costs against the
    Government, or against any Forest- officer, on account of such
    rejection or the detention or removal of any timber, or the delivery
    thereof to any other person under this section.
    (4) No such timber shall be subject to process of any Civil,
    Criminal or Revenue Court until it has been delivered, or a suit has
    been brought, as provided in this section.
    40-D. If no such statement is presented, as afore- said, or if the
    claimant omits to prefer his claims in the manner and within the
    period prescribed by the notice issued under section 40-B, or on
    such claim having been so preferred by him and having been
    rejected, omits to institute a suit to recover possession of such
    timber within the further period specified in section 40-C, the
    ownership of such timber shall vest in the Government, or when
    Notice to
    claimants of
    timber collected
    under section
    40-A.
    Procedure on
    claim preferred
    to such timber.
    Disposal of
    unclaimed
    timber.
    such timber has been delivered to another person under section 40-
    C, in such other person free from all encumbrances not created by
    him.
    40-E. No person shall be entitled to recover possession of any
    timber collected or delivered as aforesaid until he has paid to the
    Forest officer or other person entitled to receive it such sum on
    account thereof as may be due under any rule made under section
    40-F.
    40-F. (1) The Government may, from time to time, make rules
    to regulate the following matters, namely:-
    (a) the salving, collection and disposal of all timber mentioned in
    section 40-A;
    (b) the use and registration of boats used in salving and
    collecting timber;
    (c) the amounts to be paid for salving, collecting, moving,
    storing and disposing of such timber.
    (d) the use and registration of hammers and other instruments
    to be used for marking such timber.
    (2) The Government may by such rules prescribe, as penalties
    for the infringement thereof, imprisonment for a term which may
    extend to six months, or fine which may extend to five hundred
    rupees, or both.]
    Payments to be
    made by
    claimant before
    timber is
    delivered to him.
    Power to make
    rules and
    prescribe
    penalties.
    [CHAPTER VI-B.
    ROYALTIES
    40-G. 1) Trees of the following species, that is to say, teak,
    Blackwood, ebony and sandalwood and also ivory and teeth of
    elephants, whether grown or found on Government land or private
    property, are royalties and no trade shall be carried on in them
    unless they have been duly obtained from Government.
    (2) The trees mentioned in sub-section (1) shall not be felled
    by any person without the permission of the Chief Conservator of
    Forests or such other officer as may be authorised by him in writing,
    but the owner of any property on which a teak, Blackwood, ebony or
    sandalwood may after obtaining the written permission of the Chief