59. Government may invest Forest Officers with certain power.
- The [Government] [The words 'Provincial Government', were substituted for the words 'Governor in Council' by the Adaptation Order of 1937 and the word 'Provincial' was omitted by the Adaptation (Amendment) Order of 1950.] may invest any Forest Officer by name, or as holding an office, with the following powers (that is to say):-(a)the powers of a Settlement Officer under the [Tamil Nadu Boundaries Act, No. XXVIII of 1860] [This Act was repealed by Tamil Nadu Act IV of 1897. See now the Tamil Nadu Survey and Boundaries Act, 1923 (Tamil Nadu Act VIII of 1923).];(b)the powers of a Civil Court to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents;(c)power to hold inquiries into forest-offences, and in the course of such inquiries, to receive and record evidence, and to issue search warrants which may be executed in the manner provided by the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Central Act V of 1898)] [See now sections 274 to 277 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974).];(d)power to accept compensation for forest-offence under section 55, and may withdraw any powers so conferred.Any evidence recorded under clause (c) of this section shall be admissible in any subsequent trial before a Magistrate of the alleged offender:Provided that it has been taken in the presence of the accused person, and recorded in the manner provided by [section 333] [See now sections 274 to 277 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974).], [section 334] [See now sections 274 to 277 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974).] or [section 335] [See now sections 274 to 277 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974).] of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
