State Act

TAMIL NADU FOREST ACT - 1882

41. 1When there is reason to believe that a forest-offence has been committed in respect of any timber or forest-produce, such timber or produce, together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats, 2[vehicles] and cattle used in committing any such offence, may be seized by any Forest-officer or Police-officer. 1Any Forest Officer or Police Officer may, if he has reason to believe that a vehicle has been, or is being used for the transport of any scheduled timber in respect of which there is a reason to be believe that a forest offence has been or is being committed require the driver or the other person in charge of such vehicle to stop the vehicle and fast to remind stationery as long as may be reasonably necessary for examination of the contents in the vehicle and instruction of all records relating to the scheduled timber and in possession of such driver or other person in charge of the vehicle or any other person in the vehicle. 1Every officer seizing any property under this section shall place on such property or the receptacle (if any) in which it is contained, a mark indicating that the same has been so seized, and shall, as soon as may be, make a report of such seizure to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the seizure has been made: Provided that, when the timber or forest-produce with respect to which such offence is believed to have been committed is the property of the 3[Central or State Government] and the offender is unknown, it shall be sufficient if the officer makes, as soon as may be, 1[a report of the circumstances to his official superior]. 1(a) Where the offence on account of which the seizure has been made is in respect of the scheduled timber which is the property of the Government or in respect of which the Government have any interest, to the concerned authorized officer under section 49A and; (b) In other cases, to the magistrate having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the seizure has been made.]