Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Saving of power to release property seized.—Nothinghereinbefore contained shall be deemed to prevent any officer empowered in this behalf by the State Government from directing at any time the immediate release of any property seized under section 62, which is not the property of Government, and the withdrawal of any charge made in respect of such property. 1[71A. Confiscation by Forest Officers in certain cases.—(1) Notwith- standing anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter 2[or in any other law]2, where a forest offence is believed to have been committed in respect of timber, 3[ivory, 4[gulmavu (machilus marantha) bark, dalchini bark, Halmaddi (exudation of ailantus malabricum), canes]4, firewood and charcoal which is the property of the State Government or in respect of sandalwood]3, the officer seizing the property under sub-section (1) of section 62 shall, without any unreasonable delay produce it, together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing such offence, before an officer authorised by the State Government in this behalf by notification in the official Gazette, not being below the rank of an Assistant Conservator of Forests (hereinafter referred to as the authorised officer).