68. Investiture of Forest Officers with certain powers.
(1)The State Government may invest any Forest Officer by name, or as holding an office, with all or any of the following powers, namely :(a)power to enter upon any land and to survey, demarcate, and make a map of the same ;(b)the power of a Civil Court to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents ;(c)power to issue search-warrants under the Code of Criminal Procedure,(d)power to hold inquiries into forest offences, and in the course of such inquiries to receive and record evidence ;(e)power to notify the reasons and manner in which fire may be kindled, kept or carried in a reserved forest;(f)power to grant any permission referred to in Sections 26 and 36 ;(g)power to notify stations for the receptions of drift timber ;(h)power to give public notice of timber collected under Section 43 ;(i)power to take possession of property under this Regulation ;(j)power to direct the release of property or withdrawal of charges ; and may withdraw any power so conferred.(2)Any evidence recorded under Clause (d) of sub-section (1) shall be admissible in any subsequent trial before a Magistrate of the alleged offender :Provided that it has been taken in the presence of the accused person and recorded in the manner provided by Section 355, Section 356 or 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1882.
