(1)Any person who-(a)makes any fresh clearing prohibited by Section 5, or(b)[ sets fire to a reserved forest or to a forest land, in respect of which a notification declaring the decision of the State Government to constitute it a reserved forest has been issued under Section 4 or in contravention of any rule made by the State Government in this behalf, kindles in any such forest a fire or leaves a fire burning in such manner as to endanger such a forest;] [Substituted by Section 4 (i) of M.P. Act No. 9 of 1965.]or who, in a reserved forest-(c)kindles, keeps or carries any fires except at such seasons as the forest officer may notify in this behalf;(d)trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass;(e)causes any damage by negligence in felling any tree or cutting or [removing] [Substituted by Section 4 (ii) of M.P. Act No. 9 of 1965.] any timber;(f)fells, girdles, lops, taps or burns any tree or strips off the bark or leaves from, or otherwise damages, [the same or any forest-produce;] [Substituted by Section 4 (iii) of M.P. Act No. 9 of 1965.](g)quarries stone, burns lime or charcoal, or collects, subjects to any manufacturing process or remover, any forest-produce;(h)[ clears or breaks up any land for cultivation or for any other purpose, or cultivates or attempts to cultivate any land in any other manner;] [Substituted by Section 4 (iv) of M.P. Act No. 9 of 1965.](i)in contravention of any rules made in this behalf by the State Government hunts, shoots, fishes, poisons, water or sets traps or snares; or(j)in any area in which the Elephants Preservation Act, 1879 (6 of 1879) is not in force, kills or catches elephants in contravention of any rules so made;shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may [extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees] [Substituted by Section 4 (v) of M.P. Act No. 9 of 1965.], or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting Court may direct to be paid.(2)Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit-(a)any act done by permission in writing of the forest officer, or under any rule made by the State Government; or(b)the exercise of any right continued under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of Section 15, or created by grant or contract in writing made by or on behalf of the Government under Section 23.(3)Whenever fire is caused wilfully or by gross negligence in a reserved forest, the State Government may (notwithstanding that any penalty has been inflicted under this section) direct that in such forest or any portion thereof the exercise of all rights of pasture or to forest-produce shall be suspended for such period as it thinks fit.
