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Section 26Acts prohibited in such forests.

The Indian Forest Act, 1927

(1) Any person who-

(a) makes any fresh clearing prohibited by section 5, or

(b) sets fire to a reserved forest, or, in contravention of any rules made by the 1State Government in this behalf, kindles any fire, or leaves any fire burning, in such manner as to endanger such a forest; or who, in a reserved forest

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

2* * * *

(f) fells, girdles, lops, taps or burns any tree or strips off the bark or leaves from, or otherwise damages, the same;

(g) quarries stone, burns lime or charcoal, or collects, subjects to any manufacturing process, orremoves, any forest-produce;

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

(i) in contravention of any rules made in this behalf by the 1State Government hunts, shoots, fishes, poisons water or sets traps or snares; or

(j) in any area in which the Elephants Preservation Act, 1879 (6 of 1879), is not in force, kills or catches elephants in contravention of any rules so made;

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting Court may direct to be paid.

3(1A) Any person who, in a reserved forest

(a) trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass shall be liable to penalty which may extend to five hundred rupees, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as determined by a Forest-officer empowered under section 68;

(b) causes any damage by negligence in felling any tree or cutting or dragging any timber shall be liable to penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as determined by a Forest-officer empowered under section 68.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit

(a) any act done by permission in writing of the Forest-officer, or under any rule made by the 1State Government; or

(b) the exercise of any right continued under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 15, or created by grant or contract in writing made by or on behalf of the Government under section 23.

(3) Whenever fire is caused wilfully or by gross negligence in a reserved forest, the 1State Government may (notwithstanding that any penalty has been inflicted under this section) direct that in such forest or any portion thereof the exercise of all rights of pasture or to forest-produce shall be suspended for such period as it thinks fit.


1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "Provincial Government".

2. Clause (d) and (e) omitted by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and Schedule (w.e.f. 15-11-2023).

3. Ins. by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and Schedule (w.e.f. 15-11-2023).