Section 24 in Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988
24.
(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.(2)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub section (1), the following acts shall not render the person liable to punishment under that sub-section for(a)any act done with the permission, in writing, of the forest officer not below the rank of a Range Officer;(b)grazing of cattle and collection of such quantity of fodder from khasmal forest for bonafide use of the resident of the adjoining locality;(c)grazing of cattle, collection of such quantity of dry fallen sticks and grass or fodder in a gorucharan forest.
