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← Karnataka Acts

The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963

118 sections · 13 chapters

Preamble
Section 1 Short title, extent and commencement
Section 2 Definitions
Section 3 Powers to constitute Reserved Forests
Section 4 Notification by Government
Section 5 Proclamation by Forest Settlement Officer
- Section 60 Application of Cattle Trespass Act, 1871
- Section 61 Power to alter fines fixed under that Act

The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963

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Environmental1963Karnataka Act

The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963

The Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, is the primary legislation governing the management, protection, and conservation of forests within the state of Karnataka. It empowers the State Government to constitute reserved, village, and district forests, regulate the transit of forest produce, and control private forests to prevent degradation. The Act establishes a legal framework for forest offences, penalties, and the powers of forest officers. It is essential for citizens as it defines rights regarding forest access, grazing, and timber collection, while imposing strict penalties for unauthorized activities like encroachment, illegal felling, or poaching, ensuring the sustainable use of forest resources.

13

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Schedules

118

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Legislative Amendment Timeline

Chronological legislative evolution of THE KARNATAKA FOREST ACT, 1963 across statutory gazettes and amending Acts.

Enacted1963

Amendments0

Enactment1963
Act Enacted

Principal Statute in Force: No subsequent statutory amendments have been recorded for this edition.

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Section 1Short title, extent and commencement
Section 2Definitions
Section 3Powers to constitute Reserved Forests
Section 4Notification by Government
Section 5Proclamation by Forest Settlement Officer

Chapter I— PRELIMINARY

Chapter II— RESERVED FORESTS

Section 6Bar of accrual of forest rights
Section 7Inquiry by Forest Settlement Officer
Section 8Powers of Forest Settlement Officer
Section 9Extinction of rights
Section 10Treatment of claims relating to shifting cultivation
Section 11Power to acquire land over which right is claimed
Section 12Order on claims to rights of way or pasture or to forest produce or water
Section 13Record to be made where claim is admitted
Section 14Exercise of rights admitted
Section 15Compensation for rights
Section 16Appeal from order passed under section 11, section 12, section 14 or section 15
Section 17Notification declaring forest a reserved forest
Section 18Publication of notification
Section 19Power to revise arrangements made under section 14 and to redefine the limits of reserved forests in certain cases
Section 20No right acquired over reserved forest except as provided.
Section 21Alienation of right in a reserved forest
Section 22Power to stop ways and water courses in reserved forests
Section 23Reserved forests constituted previous to passing of this Act
Section 24Acts prohibited in reserved forests
Section 25Acts excepted from section 24
Section 26Privileges may be granted in reserved forests.
Section 27Penalties for offences committed by persons having rights in reserved forests
Section 28Power to declare forests no longer reserved forests

Chapter III— VILLAGE FORESTS

Section 29Constitution of village forests
Section 30Power to make rules for village forests.
Section 31Inquiry into and settlement of rights
Section 31AConstitution of Village Forest Committee for Joint Forest Planning and Management of Forest.

Chapter IV— DISTRICT FORESTS

Section 32Power to grant privileges in district forests
Section 33Power to make rules for district forests
Section 34Suspension of rights in cases of fires caused wilfully or by gross negligence
Section 35Minor forests constituted previous to the commencement of this Act

Chapter V— CONTROL OVER FORESTS AND LANDS NOT BEING THE PROPERTY OF THE

Section 36Interpretations
Section 37Preservation of private forests
Section 38Power to make rules
Section 39Protection of forests for special purposes
Section 40Appeals
Section 41Penalties
Section 42Bar of suits
Section 43Power to assume management of forests
Section 44Consequences of assumption of management
Section 45Period of management
Section 46Termination of management
Section 47Government management of forests at request of owners
Section 48Acquisition of forests in certain cases
Section 49Power to remove difficulties

Chapter VI— CONTROL OF TIMBER AND OTHER FOREST PRODUCE IN TRANSIT

Section 50Power to make rules to regulate transit of forest produce
Section 51The State Government and Forest Officer not liable for damage to forest produce at depot
Section 52All persons bound to aid in case of accident at depot

Chapter VII— COLLECTION OF DRIFT AND STRANDED TIMBER

Section 53Certain kinds of timbers to be deemed property of State Government until title thereto proved
Section 54Notice to claimants of drift timber
Section 55Procedure on claim preferred to such timber
Section 56Disposal of unclaimed timber
Section 57State Government and its officers not liable for damage to such timber
Section 58Payments to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him
Section 59Power to make rules

Chapter VIII— CATTLE TRESPASS

Section 60Application of Cattle Trespass Act, 1871
Section 61Power to alter fines fixed under that Act

Chapter IX— PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE

Section 62Seizure of property liable to confiscation
Section 62APowers of Forest Officer in the matter of Investigation
Section 62BReport by Investigation Officer
Section 62CCertificate of Forest Officer to be an evidence
Section 63Power to release property seized under section 62
Section 64APenalty for unauthorisedly taking possession of land constituted as reserved forest, district forest, village forest, protected forest and any other land under the control of the Forest Department
Section 65Forest produce, tools, etc., when liable to forfeiture
Section 66Disposal, on conclusion of trial for forest offence, of produce in respect of which it was committed
Section 67Procedure when offender is not known or cannot be found
Section 68Procedure as to perishable property seized under section 62
Section 69Appeal from orders under sections 65, 66 and 67
Section 70Vesting of forefeited property in State Government
Section 71Saving of power to release property seized
Section 71AConfiscation by Forest Officers in certain cases
Section 71BIssues of show cause notice before confiscation under section 71A
Section 71CRevision
Section 71DAppeal
Section 71EAward of Confiscation not to interfere with other punishments
Section 71FProperty confiscated when to vest in Government
Section 71GBar of jurisdiction in certain cases
Section 72Punishment for wrongful seizure
Section 73Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees or timber and for altering boundary marks
Section 74Power to arrest without warrant
Section 75Power to release on a bond a person arrested
Section 76Power to prevent commission of offence
Section 76APrevention of Commission of offences etc
Section 77Power to try offences summarily
Section 78Operation of other laws not barred
Section 79Power to compound offences
Section 80Presumption that forest produce belongs to Government
Section 81Compensation for damage caused by commission of offence
Section 82Forfeiture of leases
Section 82ACriminal liability of licencee for acts of servants
Section 82BOffence by Companies etc

Chapter X— PROVISIONS RELATING TO SANDALWOOD

Section 83Forest rights of inamdars and other persons entitled to sandal trees
Section 84Sandal trees exclusive property of Government
Section 85Responsibility of occupants and holders of land for the preservation of sandal trees
Section 86Penalty for offence in regard to sandalwood
Section 87Regulation of sale and manufacture of sandalwood and sandalwood oil

Chapter XI— SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO CATECHU

Section 88Definitions
Section 89Felling, etc., of catechu trees without permission prohibited
Section 90Felling, conversion or removal of catechu trees by the Forest or Revenue Department or by a person
Section 91Application for permit for felling catechu trees
Section 92Transport, etc., of catechu trees or timber without permit prohibited
Section 93Purchase or transport of cutch without permit prohibited
Section 94Manufacture of cutch to be carried on in specified places
Section 95Maintenance of accounts
Section 96Power of Revenue, Forest and Police Officers to search and seize property liable to confiscation
Section 97Power to make rules
Section 98Penalty

Chapter XI-A— FOREST DEVELOPMENT

Section 98AForest Development Tax
Section 98BForest Development Fund
Section 98CPower of State Government to exempt or reduce Forest Development fee

Chapter XII— MISCELLANEOUS

Section 99The State Government may invest Forest Officers with certain powers
Section 100Removal of forest produce from inam lands
Section 101Control over reserved trees
Section 101AGrant of forest produce on seigniorage rate
Section 101BSupply of forest produce under agreement by the State Government
Section 102General powers to make rules
Section 103Rules to be laid before State Legislature
Section 104Penalties for Contravention of Act or rules
Section 104ARestrictions on trade and transport of blackwood or Bite trees and timber thereof
Section 104BCertain offences to be cognizable
Section 104CAbetment
Section 104DSpecial provision regarding bail
Section 104FPersons not be released on probation
Section 104GRemoval of persons convicted of certain offences
Section 105Duty of persons bound by acts and rules to assist Forest Officers and Police Officers
Section 106Management of forests which are the joint property of State Government and other persons
Section 107Power of State Government to apply provisions of this Act to certain lands of State Government or local authority
Section 108Failure to perform service for which a share in produce of Government forest is enjoyed
Section 109Recovery of money due to Government
Section 110Lien on forest produce for such money
Section 111Land required under this Act to be deemed to be needed for a public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act
Section 112Recovery of penalties due under bond
Section 113Forest Officers deemed to be public servants
Section 114Indemnity for acts done in good faith
Section 114ASuits or prosecution in respect of acts done under colour of duty not to be entertained without sanction of the State Government
Section 115Forest Officer not to trade
Section 116Central Act No. 67 of 1957 to prevail
Section 117Repeal and savings
Section 118Power to remove difficulties