Section 1 in Special Rules Under Section 21 of the Act for the Management of the Wen-Lock downs Reserved Forest in the Nilgiris as a Pasturage and Recreation Ground
1.
With reference to the Notification No. 144, dated March 26,1900, which appeared at page 473 in the Fort St. George Gazette of the 27th March 1900 constituting the tract of country now known as "The Wedlock Downs" a reserved forest under section 16 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act of 1882 (Tamil Nadu Act V of 1882), the Government of Tamil Nadu are hereby pleased to declare that the following special rules shall under section 21 of the said Act apply thereto pending further notice:-(1)Nothing shall be deemed an offence under these rules which is done by the Ootacamund Hunt Club in the proper pursuit of hunting.(2)Except as provided in rule 1, the coursing or pursuit of jackals with any kind of dog whatsoever is strictly prohibited within reserve limits and the shooting, poisoning or trapping of them is also prohibited.(3)Shooting within the reserve shall be regulated by the Nilgiri Game and Fish Preservation Act, 1879 (Tamil Nadu Act II of 1879) and the Nilgiri Game Rules framed under the Forest Act as already in force.(4)Fishing in the Pykara river or other streams within the reserve shall be regulated by the same rules.(5)Riding picnic or other pleasure parties are free of the reserve with the exception of such places as the Collector may deem it necessary to close against intrusion under the Forest Act or rules. No greenwood shall be cut in sholas, but fallen dry wood may be gathered for fires at picnics and the like, but care must be taken that the penalty provided in section 21(b) of the Forest Act is not incurred. ("Any person who sets fire to a reserved forest or kindles or leaves burning any fire in such manner as to endanger the same, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs. 500 or with both in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting Court may direct to be paid").(6)No wood, green or dry may be cut or gathered from a Government plantation nor shall fires be lit within one hundred metres thereof.(7)The cutting and removal of grass will be allowed without a permit save in such localities as may, from time to time, be notified by the Collector.(8)The collection of dung anywhere within the reserve limits is strictly forbidden.(9)Golfing within the reserve shall be permitted free but no new golf-course shall be laid down without the Collector's permission nor shall any building connected with the game be erected without his sanction.(10)Racing within the reserve shall be permitted free but no new racecourse shall be formed or building connected therewith erected without the Collector's sanction.(11)The grazing of cattle, asses, horses and sheep shall be permitted within the reserve except in Government's Plantations on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, from time to time; it rests with the Collector to close against grazing or the grazing of any particular class of animal, any portion of the reserve that he may deem necessary, from time to time.(12)The quarrying of stones, gravel, earth or turf within the reserve by the Divisional Engineer (Highways and Rural Works Departments) shall be allowed on payment of the seniorage at the rates prescribed for the Nilgiri division. Such quarrying shall be permitted only in such places as may, from time to time, be approved by the District Forest Officer. No materials shall be removed from the reserve for use outside its limits except with the permission of the Collector obtained in writing in advance. Subject to the same conditions, the Municipal Engineer also shall be allowed to quarry such materials for use on municipal roads passing through any portion of the reserve. Previous sanction of the Government shall be obtained to the construction of any road other than a forest road through any portion of the reserve. The Divisional Engineer (Highways and Rural Works Department) or the Municipal Engineer as the case may be, shall after quarrying for stone, gravel, earth or turf take steps to level the excavations made and leave no unsightly or dangerous pits or holes.Note. - Wheeled traffic beyond the limits of the admitted roads is strictly prohibited. This restriction does not apply to the parking of vehicles within 50 metres of any road or to the use of wheeled traffic on the downs on such occasions as race meetings under arrangements made with the approval of the Collector.(13)Goat browsing within the reserve is strictly prohibited.(14)The firing of grass in any part of the reserve except by the Forest Department will be dealt with under the Forest Act.(15)The erection of temporary huts or sheds and the cutting or collection of materials for that purpose is forbidden without the Collector's permission and in default of such permission, the contravention of this rule shall be dealt with under the Forest Act. The erection of any unauthorised building shall be similarly dealt with.(16)The damaging of any trees within the reserve trespass into the grounds of or intrusion into any forest building is an offence.Declaration of Powers Under the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882 (Tamil Nadu Act V of 1882)IPowers of District Collectors to Close Reserve forest and Reserved Lands to Grazing(G. O. No. 2123, Revenue (Special), dated the 18th November 1919-Notification No. 429, dated the 18th November 1919, page 1352 of Part I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated the 25th November 1919; G. O. No. 2776, Development, dated the 13th December 1937-Notification No. 782, dated the 26th November 1937, page 2031, Part I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated the 7th December 1937).In supersession of Notification No. 64, dated the 6th February 1902, on page 155 of Part I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated the 11th February 1902 and No. 242, dated the 14th June 1905, on page 461 of Part I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated 20th June 1905, the Government of Tamil Nadu under the authority vested in them by section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Forest (Amendment) Act, 1919 (Tamil Nadu Act VII of 1919) authorise District Collectors to exercise, subject to the concurrence of the Chief Conservator of Forests, the powers conferred by sections 22 and 27 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882 (Tamil Nadu Act V of 1882).IIPowers of District Forest Officers to close Reserved Forests to Grazing(G. O. Ms. No. 51, Development, dated the 4th January 1940-Notification No. 960, dated the 2nd December 1933, page 1607 of Part-I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated the 12th December 1939)(G. O. Ms. No. 2005, Food and Agriculture, dated the 28th May 1965)In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Forest (Amendment) Act, 1919 (Tamil Nadu Act VII of 1919), His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby pleased to delegate to the District Forest Officers the powers conferred on the State Government by section 22 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882 (Tamil Nadu Act V of 1882), subject to the conditions specified below, namely:-(1)that the area of reserved forest in which the area suspended does not exceed 500 hectares at time; and(2)that the District Forest Officers submit a report immediately to the Collector and the Chief Conservator of Forests.IIIPowers of the Board of Revenue to Permit Alienations of Rights of Pasturage or to Forest Produce Admitted in Reserved Forests(G. O. Ms. No. 996, Revenue, dated the 10th May 1932; G. O. No. 2776, Development, dated the 13th December 1937, Notification No. 783, dated the 26th November 1937; pages 2031-2032 of Part I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated the 7th December 1937)In exercise of the powers conferred by section 65 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882 (Tamil Nadu Act V of 1882), the Government of Tamil Nadu are hereby pleased to delegate to the [Board of Revenue] [The Board of Revenue was abolished by the Tamil Nadu Board of Revenue Abolition Act, 1980 (Tamil Nadu Act 36 of 1980). Now Commissioner of Land Administration, vide G. O. Ms. No. 2675. Revenue, dated the 1st December 1980.] in respect of forests under its control, the powers conferred by section 19 of the said Act.IVPowers of the Chief Conservator of Forests to Permit Alienations of Right of Pasturage or to forest Produce Admitted in Reserved Forests or to Grant Lands on Patta in Forests Notified Under Section 4 Or 16 Of The Forest Act(G. O. Ms. No. 679, Development, dated the 16th May 1932; G. O. No. 2776, Development, dated the 13th December 1937-Notifications Nos. 784 and 785, dated the 26th November 1937, page 2032 of Part I of the Fort St. George Gazette, dated the 7th December 1937)
