Section 24(1) in Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988
(1)Any person who(a)makes any fresh clearing or converts khasmal forests or gorucharan forest or part thereof to any use other than forestry;(b)sets fire to a khasmal forest or gorucharan forest or part thereof;(c)in contravention of any rules made under this Act kindles any fire or leaves any fire burning in such manner as to endanger such a forest;(d)kindles, keeps or carries any fire except during season other than the season notified by the forest officer;(e)causes, by negligence, any damage, by felling any tree or cutting or dragging any timber;(f)cuts, pollards, girdles, lops, taps or burns any tree or strips off the bark or otherwise damages the same;(g)quarries stone, burns lime or charcoal or collects any forest produce;(h)damages, alters, removes any cairn, wall, ditch, embankment, fence, hedge or railing, boundary marks, shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both and in addition to be liable to any such compensation for the damage done to the forest as the convicting court may direct.
