(1) All timber or forest-produce which is not the property of 1[Government] and in respect of which a forest-offence has been committed, and all tools, boats, carts and cattle used in committing any forest-offence, shall be liable to confiscation.
(2) Such confiscation may be in addition to any other punishment prescribed for such offence.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Maharashtra
Amendment of section 55 of Act 16 of 1927.--In section 55 of the principal Act,--
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words shall be liable by order of the convicting court to forfeiture the words shall be liable to confiscation shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), for the word forfeiture the word confiscation shall be substituted;
(c) in the marginal note, for the word forfeiture the word confiscation shall be substituted.
[Vide Maharashtra Act 21 of 2015, s. 6].
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).--
Section 55.- For sub-section (1), substitute the following sub-section:--
(1) All timber or forest produce which in either case is not the property of the Government and in respect of which a forest offence has been committed, and all tools, arms, boats, carts, equipment, ropes, chains, machines, vehicles, cattle or any other article, in each case used in committing any forest offence shall, subject to the provisions of section 52, 52A and 52B, be liable to confiscation upon conviction of the offender for such offence.
[Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and Vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O.3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 55--In section 55 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "vehicle and cattle used in committing any forest offence" the words "vehicles, cattle, ropes, chains and other articles used in committing such forest office" shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 1 of 2001, s. 9].
Uttarakhand.--
Amendment of section 55.--In section 55 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "Carts and cattle used in committing any forest offence" the words "vehicles, cattle, ropes, chains and other articles used in committing forest offence" shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttarakhand 10 of 2002, s. 9].
Maharashtra.--
Amendment of section 55 of Act XVI of 1927.--In section 55 of the principal Act,--
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words "shall be liable to confiscation," the words, figures and letter "shall, subject to section 61G, be liable by order of the convicting court to forfeiture.", shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), for the word "confiscation" the word "forfeiture" shall be substituted;
(c) in the marginal note, for the word "confiscation" the word "forefeiture" shall be substituted.
[Vide Maharashtra Act VII of 1985, s. 10].
Maharashtra.--
Amendment of sections 52,53 and 55 Act XVI of 1927.--In sections 52, 53 and 55 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (XVI of 1927), for the word "carts", wherever it occurs, the word "vehicles" shall be substituted.
[Vide Maharashtra Act XXV of 1953, s. 2].
(2) Such confiscation may be in addition to any other punishment prescribed for such offence.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Maharashtra
Amendment of section 55 of Act 16 of 1927.--In section 55 of the principal Act,--
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words shall be liable by order of the convicting court to forfeiture the words shall be liable to confiscation shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), for the word forfeiture the word confiscation shall be substituted;
(c) in the marginal note, for the word forfeiture the word confiscation shall be substituted.
[Vide Maharashtra Act 21 of 2015, s. 6].
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).--
Section 55.- For sub-section (1), substitute the following sub-section:--
(1) All timber or forest produce which in either case is not the property of the Government and in respect of which a forest offence has been committed, and all tools, arms, boats, carts, equipment, ropes, chains, machines, vehicles, cattle or any other article, in each case used in committing any forest offence shall, subject to the provisions of section 52, 52A and 52B, be liable to confiscation upon conviction of the offender for such offence.
[Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and Vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O.3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 55--In section 55 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "vehicle and cattle used in committing any forest offence" the words "vehicles, cattle, ropes, chains and other articles used in committing such forest office" shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 1 of 2001, s. 9].
Uttarakhand.--
Amendment of section 55.--In section 55 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1) for the words "Carts and cattle used in committing any forest offence" the words "vehicles, cattle, ropes, chains and other articles used in committing forest offence" shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttarakhand 10 of 2002, s. 9].
Maharashtra.--
Amendment of section 55 of Act XVI of 1927.--In section 55 of the principal Act,--
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words "shall be liable to confiscation," the words, figures and letter "shall, subject to section 61G, be liable by order of the convicting court to forfeiture.", shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), for the word "confiscation" the word "forfeiture" shall be substituted;
(c) in the marginal note, for the word "confiscation" the word "forefeiture" shall be substituted.
[Vide Maharashtra Act VII of 1985, s. 10].
Maharashtra.--
Amendment of sections 52,53 and 55 Act XVI of 1927.--In sections 52, 53 and 55 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (XVI of 1927), for the word "carts", wherever it occurs, the word "vehicles" shall be substituted.
[Vide Maharashtra Act XXV of 1953, s. 2].
Source footnotes
1. Subs., ibid., for "Crown".आगे पढ़ें / Continue reading
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More sections of this act
Section 1 · Short title and extent.Section 2 · Interpretation clause.Section 3 · Power to reserve forests.Section 4 · Notification by State Government.Section 5 · Bar of accrual of forest-rights.Section 6 · Proclamation by Forest Settlement-officer.Section 7 · Inquiry by Forest Settlement-officer.Section 8 · Powers of Forest Settlement-officer.India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 24 Oct 2026. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.