Section 14
(1) When there is reason to believe that any tree has been felled or cut or removed in contravention of the provisions of this Act, the wood of such tree, together with boat, vehicle, carrier or cattle, if any, used in such contravention may be seized by any Forest Officer not below the rank of a Forest Ranger or any police officer not below the rank of a Sub -Inspector or any other person empowered in this behalf by the State Government.
14. (1) When there is reason to believe that any tree has been felled or cut or removed in contravention of the provisions of this Act, the wood of such tree, together with boat, vehicle, carrier or cattle, if any, used in such contravention may be seized by any Forest Officer not below the rank of a Forest Ranger or any police officer not below the rank of a Sub -Inspector or any other person empowered in this behalf by the State Government.
Every seizure under this section shall be reported to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the seizure has been made, and such timber, boat, vehicle, carrier or cattle shall, subject to the order of such Magistrate, be disposed of in the prescribed manner.
Any forest officer or police officer who vexatiously and unnecessarily arrests or seizes any property on pretence of such property being liable to forfeiture under this Act 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.
(1) The State Government may by notification authorise any officer to accept from any person against whom there is reason to believe that he has committed offence under this Act in respect of any tree other than a tree situate in a forest, grove or public premises, such sum of money not exceeding 1 [ten thousand rupees] by way of composition for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed.
On the payment of such sum of money to any such Officer, the suspected person if in custody, shall be released and no further proceedings under this Act shall be taken against such person and notwithstanding anything contained in Section 14, such officer may on payment of such amount, not exceeding 2[ten thousand rupees] as he may in the circumstances of the case think fit, release the property seized under this Act.
It shall be the duty of every Forest Officer, Lekhpal, Panchayat Secretary, Police Constable, Assistant Horticulture Inspector or Assistant Soil Conservation Inspector or any officer superior to them , –
(a) to give immediate information coming to his knowledge, of any contravention of section 4 and of preparation to commit such contravention to the competent authority, and
(b) to take all reasonable measures in his power to prevent such contravention which he may know or have reason to believe that it is about or likely to be committed.
The award of penalty or confiscation of any property under this Act shall not prevent the inflicting of any punishment to which the person affected thereby is liable under any other law.
The officers exercising powers or discharging any duties or functions under this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
Power to compound offences
Contravention of Act to be reported by certain officers
Award of penalty or confiscation not to interfere with other punishment
Officers to be public servants
Execution of order for payment of money
Any sum, including any amount for composition of an offence, the payment of which has been directed to be made by any person under this Act shall, without prejudice to any other mode of recovery under any law for the time being in force, be recoverable from him as an arrear of land revenue.