The UTTAR PRADESH PROTECTION OF TREES ACT, 1976
uttarakhand · 1976
The scanned source for this Act is imperfect — headings or section boundaries may be off. Verify against the official source.
- S. 1Added by section 4 of U
- S. 2This Act shall not apply to - (a) trees situate in reserved and protected forests ; (b) trees situate in a forest or
- S. 3Section defines key terms used in the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act, 1976, including "blank area," "Bhoomi Sanrakshan Adhikari," "competent authority," and "Divisional Forest Officer."
- S. 4Subs
- S. 5Section 5 allows competent authority to grant permission to fell trees upon application, except if immediate action is needed to remove danger.
- S. 6Section 6 outlines the procedure for granting and appealing permissions for tree removal under the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act, 1976.
- S. 7Section mandates planting two replacement trees for each felled tree, with authority to adjust or exempt.
- S. 8Section 8 empowers the Divisional Forest Officer to direct landowners to plant specified trees and mandates an appeal process for objections.
- S. 9Section 9 mandates tree planting within 90 days and allows the officer to plant and recover costs if not done.
- S. 10Section penalizes felling or disposing of trees without permission, with up to six months' imprisonment and a fine.
- S. 11Section 11 holds companies and responsible individuals liable for tree offenses, with exceptions for due diligence and neglect by company officers.
- S. 12Section 12 allows courts to order forfeiture of timber, trees, and tools used in offenses, with disposal by the competent authority.
- S. 13Section 13 authorizes forest and police officers to arrest individuals suspected of violating the Act without a warrant.
- S. 14Section empowers officers to seize illegally cut trees and related property, with penalties for misuse of this power.
- S. 15Section 15 allows the State Government to authorize officers to accept a composition fee up to Rs.5,000 for suspected tree offenses, releasing the person and seized property.
- S. 16Section 16 mandates forest and related officers to report tree violations and take action to prevent them.
- S. 17Section 17 allows penalties under this Act without preventing additional punishments under other laws.
- S. 18Section 18 designates officers under the Act as public servants for purposes of the Indian Penal Code.
- S. 19Section 19 allows fines under the Act to be treated as land revenue arrears for recovery.
- S. 20Section 20 provides immunity from suits or proceedings against the State Government or authorized officials for actions taken in good faith under the Act.
- S. 21The State Government can exempt areas or tree species from this Act's provisions if deemed necessary for public interest.
- S. 22Section 22 allows the Act's provisions to supplement, not override, other laws regulating tree felling.
- S. 23Section allows State Government to ban felling of certain tree classes for specified periods.
- S. 24The State Government may by notification make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act
- S. 25(1) The Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees in Rural Areas Ordinance, 1976 is hereby repealed