Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) Whenever it appears to the State Government that any tract of land, not being the property of Government, so abounds in natural growth of trees, shrubs or grass or in timber or other forest—produce that it should be declared in public interest and for furtherance of the objects of this Act, to be a private forest, the State Government shall issue a notification in the Official Gazette— (a) declaring that it has been decided to declare such tract of land to be a private forest; and (b) specifying as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of such tract. (2) On the publication of such notification the Collector or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government shall issue a notice in the prescribed manner to the owner of such tract of land and to all other persons having an interest in such tract of land, calling on them to show cause, within a reasonable period to be specified in such notice, why such declaration should not be made. (3) After hearing the objections, if any, of the owner and other persons and considering any evidence that they may produce in support of the same, the Collector or, as the case may be, the authorised officer shall submit his report to the State Government, along with his opinion whether the tract of land should or should not be declared to be a private forest. (4) After taking into consideration the report and the opinion of the Collector, or as the case may be, the authorised officer, the State Government shall decide whether such tract of land or any part thereof should or should not be declared to be a private forest and such decision shall be final : Provided that before taking a decision to declare any tract of land, or part thereof as private forest, the State Government shall give an opportunity of being heard to the owner or other persons interested therein. (5) If the State Government decides to declare such tract of land or any part thereof to be a private forest, it shall issue a notification to that effect and publish the same in the Official Gazette. (6) Upon such issue and publication of the notification under sub-section (5), the tract of land in question or any part thereof shall be deemed to be private forest and thereupon all the provisions of this Act shall apply thereto, subject to the modification that the appointed day in relation there shall be deemed to be the date of the issue and publication of the notification under sub-section (5) in relation thereto. (7) If the State Government decides not to declare such tract of land or any part thereof to be a private forest, it shall also publish its decision by a notification in the Official Gazette. (8) On the issue of a notification under sub-section (1) in respect of any tract of land it shall not be lawful for the owner of such tract of land or any other person to do therein, except with the previous permission of the Divisional Forest Officer, any of the following things, for any period not exceeding one year from the date of issue of such notification or till the date of the publication of the notification under sub- section (5), or as the case may be, sub-section (7), whichever period expires earlier, namely :— (a) the breaking up or cleaning of the land for cultivation ; Indemnity. Declaration of certain lands as private forests. (b) the pasturing of cattle ; (c) the firing or cleaning of the vegetation ; (d) the girdling, tapping or burning of any tree or the stripping off the bark or leaves from any tree ; (e) the lopping and pollarding of trees ; (f) the cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber, or (g) the quarrying of stone or the burning of lime or charcoal or the collection or removal of any forest produce or its subjection to any manufacturing process. (9) If any person contravenes the provisions of sub-section (8), he shall, on conviction, be punished with fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees.