77. State Government may invest forest officers with certain powers.
(1)The State Government may invest any Forest Officer with all or any of the following powers, that is to say -(a)power to enter upon any land and to survey, demarcate and prepare a map of the same;(b)the powers of a Civil Court to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and material objects;(c)powers to issue a search warrant under the Code of Criminal Procedure [1973] [Substituted vide O.A.No. 12 of 2003 Notification No. 6282/Legislative O.G.E. No. 660 dated 5.5.2003.] [(2 of 1974)] [Substituted vide O.A.No. 12 of 2003 Notification No. 6282/Legislative O.G.E. No. 660 dated 5.5.2003.]; and(d)powers to hold an inquiry into forest offences, and in the course of such inquiry to receive and record evidence.(2)Any evidence recorded under Clause (d) of Sub-section (1) shall be admissible in any subsequent trial before a Magistrate; provided that it has been taken in the presence of the accused person.
