State Act

The Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act.

163. Penalty for allowing cattle to stray in street or to trespass upon private or public property.— (1) Whoever, within the limits of a village, allows any cattle which are his property or in his charge to stray in any street or to trespass upon any private or public property shall, on conviction, be punished— (i) for the first offence, 1[with fine which may extend to one thousand five hundred rupees] ; (ii) for a second or subsequent offence, 2[with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees]. (2) The Magistrate trying the offence under sub-section (1) may order,— (a) that the accused shall pay such compensation, not exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees as the Magistrate considers reasonable, to any person for any damage proved to have been caused to his property or to the produce of land, by the cattle under the control of the accused, trespassing on his land ; and also, (b) that the cattle in respect of which an offence has been committed shall be forfeited to the State Government. (3) Any compensation awarded under sub-section (2) may be recovered as if it were a fine imposed under this section. (4) An offence under this section shall be cognizable.