Forest Act, 1963 Section 24

Any person who,--

(a) makes any fresh clearing prohibited by section 6, or

(b) sets fire to a reserved forest or in contravention of any rules made by the State Government in this behalf, kindles any fire, or leaves any fire burning, in such manner as to endanger such a forest; or

any person who, in a reserved forest,--

(c) in contravention of the rules made in this behalf by the State Government,--

(i) kindles, keeps or carries any fire except at such seasons as the Forest Officer may notify in this behalf;

(ii) trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass;

(d) causes any damage by negligence in felling any tree or cutting or dragging any timber;

(e) fells, cuts, girdles, lops, taps 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 forest produce;

(g) clears or breaks up any land for cultivation or any other purpose;

¹[(gg) unauthorisedly occupies land for any purpose;]

(h) damages, alters or removes any cairn, wall, ditch, embankment, fence, hedge, or railing;

(i) poisons or dynamites water;

(j) in contravention²[of any law or rules, enters any reserved forest with fire arms or any other weapon meant for hunting], hunts, shoots, fishes or sets traps or snares, or

who abets committing of any of the above prohibited acts shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to²[one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees], or with both, and in addition be liable to pay such compensation for the damage done to the forests as the convicting court may direct to be paid.

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1. Inserted by Act 10 of 1989 w.e.f. 16.3.1989.

2. Substituted by Act 1 of 1981 w.e.f. 23.2.1981.