(1)The [State Government] [Substituted by Section 4 of Rajasthan Act No. 27 of 1957 (Published in Rajasthan Gazette, Part 4-A Extraordinary dated 13.8.1957).] may by notification in the [Official Gazette] [Substituted by Section 4 of Rajasthan Act No. 27 of 1957 (Published in Rajasthan Gazette, Part 4-A Extraordinary dated 13.8.1957).] empower a Forest Officer.(a)to accept from any person against whom reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed any forest offence other than an offence specified in Section 62 or Section 53 a sum of money by way of compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed, and(b)when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer.(2)On the payment of such sum of money or such value or both as the case may be, to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be discharged, the property, if any seized shall be released and no further proceeding shall be taken against such person or property.(3)[ A Forest Officer shall not be empowered under this section unless he is a Forest Officer of a rank not inferior to that of a Range Forest Officer.] [Substituted by Act No. 15 of 2013, dated 9.4.2013.]
