Section 38(1) in The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act, 1987 (1930 A.D.)
(1)[Any forest Officer not below the rank of Range Officer may] [Substituted by Act XXIV of 1997. Section 22.]-(a)[ [accept] [Clause (a) substituted by Act XL of 1962.] from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists, [that he has committed any forest offence involving damage not exceeding [five thousand rupees] [Substituted by Act V of 1980, Section 9.] other than an offence specified in section 35 or section 43 a sum of money by way of composition for the offence], which such person is suspected to have committed :Provided that the sum of money accepted by way of composition shall [in no case be less than double the amount involved in the loss caused by such offence, and] [Substituted by Act V of 1980, Section 9.](b)when any property has been seized as liable to confiscation, [release] [Substituted by Act XXIV of 1997, Section 22.] the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer.
