Pursuant to the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (please refer to the e-mails in trail), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has appointed 15th November, 2023 as the date on which the amendments pertaining to Indian Forest Act, 1927 will gain effect. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 is geared to implement updated/ enhanced monetary fines while doing away with the criminal sanctions associated with non-compliance of provisions under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
Key Highlights:
1. Now, any person who, trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass a reserved forest will now be punishable with a fine which may extend up to Rs. 500/-, in addition to a compensation amount determined by the Forest Officer.
2. Any person who causes any damage by negligence in felling any tree or cutting or dragging any timber in a reserved forest will now be punishable with a fine which may extend up to Rs. 5,000/-, in addition to a compensation amount determined by the Forest Officer.
3. Now, if a person, leaves burning any fire kindled by him in the vicinity of any tree reserved under section 30, whether standing, fallen or felled, or closed portion only in a protected forest shall be punishable with a fine which may extend up to Rs. 5,000/-, in addition to a compensation amount determined by the Forest Officer.
4. The State Government may now, by way of a notification accept from any person a sum of money by way of penalty or compensation for violation of the above.
Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
