241. Measures to prevent theft of timber from Government forest.
(1)If the State Government is satisfied that in order to prevent the theft of timber from any Government forest it is necessary in the public interest to regulate the felling and removal of timber in the villages comprised in any area adjoining such forests, the State Government may, by an order published in the Gazette, declare such area to be notified area for the purposes of this section.(2)Every order published under sub-section (1) shall be proclaimed in the prescribed manner in all the villages comprised in the notified area.(3)Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 179 but subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), when an order has been proclaimed in any village under sub-section (2), no person shall in pursuance of a transaction of sale or for purposes of trade or business fell any timber tree in any holding in such village or remove the corpus of any such tree from any such holding except in accordance with such rules as may be made in that behalf.(4)[ Any person who contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the provisions of sub-section (3) or of any rule made thereunder, shall, without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against him, be liable on the order in writing of the Sub-Divisional Officer, to pay a penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees as may be imposed by him and the Sub-Divisional Officer shall further order confiscation of any timber trees felled in contravention of the provisions of this sub-section.] [Substituted by M.P. Act No. 19 of 2001 (w.e.f. 27-9-2001). Prior to substitution it read as under : '(4) Any person who contravenes or attempts to contravene or abets the contravention of the provisions of sub-section (3) or of any rule made thereunder, shall, without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against him, be liable on the order in writing of the Collector, to pay a penalty not exceeding one thousand rupees as may be imposed by him and the Collector may, further order confiscation of any timber trees felled in contravention of the provisions of this sub-section.'](5)[Nothing in sub-sections (3) and (4) shall apply to the felling or removal up to two cubic metres of timber from trees by any person from his land during a period of one year for his bona fide agricultural or domestic purposes, if such felling or removal is otherwise in accordance with the other provisions of this Code.] [Substituted by M.P. Act No. 19 of 2001 (w.e.f. 27-9-2001), for 'Nothing is sub-sections (3) and (4) shall apply to the felling or removal of timber trees by any person from his land tor his bonafide agricultural or domestic purposes'.]
