40V. Punishment for felling, etc., trees which are royalties.
(1)Whoever-(a)fells, girdles, lops, marks, mutilates, or otherwise damages any tree which is a royalty, in contravention of the rules made by the Government, or(b)fells such trees in places other than those for which he has obtained permission from a Forest Officer, or in quantities larger than, or different in kind from, those so permitted, or(c)is found in possession of such trees, or of any forest produce which is a royalty without having honestly obtained it, shall, on conviction by a Magistrate, be liable to imprisonment which may extend to six months, or to fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or to both.(2)In cases where the offence is committed after sunset and before sunrise, or after making preparation for resistance to the execution of any law or any legal process, or where the offender has been previously convicted of a like offence, the convicting Magistrate may inflict double the penalty prescribed for such offence.
