{
  "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1",
  "id": "punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b",
  "title": "FOREST ACT, 1927",
  "source_collection": "Punjab",
  "content_kind": "stored_law_text",
  "content_extent": null,
  "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/XGtSYwU7V2I-",
  "version": null,
  "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:34:12Z",
  "legal_status": "not independently verified",
  "text_quality": "Complete stored UTF-8 TXT file recovered byte-for-byte from owned Drive. Source transcription retained verbatim; legal completeness, OCR accuracy and current consolidation unverified.",
  "text_sha256": "3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115",
  "source_sha256": "3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115",
  "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115",
  "quality_flags": [],
  "encoding": "UTF-8",
  "text": "Forest \r\n1927: Act XVI \r\nCONTENTS \r\nCHAPTER I \r\nPreliminary \r\n1. Short title and extent. \r\n2. Interpretation clause. \r\nCHAPTER II \r\nOf Reserved Forests \r\n3. Powers to reserve forests. \r\n4. Notification by Government. \r\n5. Bar of accrual of forest-rights. \r\n6. Proclamation by Forest Settlement-officer. \r\n7. Inquiry by Forest Settlement-officer. \r\n8. Powers of Forest Settlement-officer. \r\n9. Extinction of rights. \r\n10. Treatment of claims relating to practice of shifting cultivation. \r\n 11. Power to acquire land over which right is claimed. \r\n 12. Order on claims to rights of pasture or to forest-produce. \r\n 13. Record to be made by Forest Settlement-officer. \r\n 14. Record where he admits claim. \r\n 15. Exercise of rights admitted. \r\n 16. Commutation of rights. \r\n 17. Appeal from order passed under section 11, section 12, section 15 or \r\nsection 16. \r\n 18. Appeal under section 17. \r\n 19. Pleaders. \r\n 20. Notification declaring forest reserved. \r\nTHE FOREST ACT, 1927 \r\n(XVI of 1927) \r\n \r\n21. Publication of translation of such notification in neighbourhood of \r\nforest. \r\n22. Power to revise arrangement made under section 15 or section 18. \r\n23. No right acquired over reserved forest, except as here provided. \r\n24. Rights not to be alienated without sanction. \r\n25. Power to stop ways and water-courses in reserved forests. \r\n26. Offences relating to reserved forests. \r\n26-A. Removal of encroachments, etc., from Reserved Forests. \r\n27. Power to declare forest no longer reserved. \r\nCHAPTER III \r\nOf village-forests \r\n 28. Formation of village-forests. \r\n 28-A. Unclassed forests. \r\nCHAPTER IV \r\nOf protected forests \r\n 29. Protected forests. \r\n 30. Power to issue notification reserving trees, etc. \r\n 31. Publication of translation of such notification in neighbourhood. \r\n 32. Power to make rules for protected forests. \r\n 33. Offences relating to protected forests. \r\n 33-A. Power of Court to evict trespassers. \r\n 34. Nothing in this Chapter to prohibit acts done in certain cases. \r\n 34-A. Power to declare forest no longer protected. \r\nCHAPTER V \r\nOf the control over forests and lands not being  \r\nthe property of Government \r\n 35. Protection of forests for special purposes. \r\n 36. Power to assume management of forests. \r\n 37. Expropriation of forests in certain cases. \r\n38. Protection of forests at request of owners. \r\nCHAPTER VI \r\nOf the duty on timber and other forest-produce \r\n39. Power to impose duty on timber and other forest-produce. \r\n40. Limit not to apply to purchase-money or royalty. \r\nCHAPTER VII \r\nOf the control of timber and other  \r\nforest-produce in transit \r\n41. Power to make rules to regulate, transit of forest-produce. \r\n41A. Powers of Government as to movements of timber across Customs \r\nfrontiers. \r\n42. Penalty for breach of rules made under section 41. \r\n43. Government and Forest-officers not liable for damage to forest -produce \r\nat depot. \r\n44. All persons bound to aid in case of accident at depot. \r\nCHAPTER VIII \r\nOf the collection of drift and stranded timber \r\n45. Certain kinds of timber to be deemed property of Government until title \r\nthereto proved, and may be collected accordingly. \r\n46. Notice to claimants of drift-timber. \r\n47. Procedure on claim preferred to such timber. \r\n48. Disposal of unclaimed timber. \r\n49. Government and its officers not liable for damage to such timber. \r\n50. Payments to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him. \r\n51. Power to make rules and prescribe penalties. \r\nCHAPTER VIII-A \r\n51-A. The Forest Protection Centers \r\n51-B. Powers and functions of incharge of Forest Protection Centers \r\n51-C. Record keeping at Forest Protection Center \r\n51-D. Director General (Forests) \r\n51-E.   Appointment of officers and officials \r\n51-F. Powers and functions of officers \r\n51-G. Investigation officer \r\n51-H. Transfer of investigation \r\n51-I. Procedure to be followed after arrest \r\n51-J. Cognizance and trial of offences \r\n51-K. Appeal \r\n51-L. Prosecutor \r\n51-M. Incentive and compensation \r\n51-N. Punishment for an officer or official \r\n51-O. Whistle-blower disclosure \r\n51-P. Reward and punishment \r\n51-Q. Protection of whistle-blower \r\nCHAPTER IX \r\nPenalties and Procedure \r\n52. Sealing and seizure of the property liable to confiscate \r\n53. Power to de-seal or de-seize property seized or sealed under section 52 \r\nand procedure thereupon. \r\n54. [Omitted]. \r\n55. Forest-produce, tools, etc., when liable to confiscation. \r\n56. Disposal on conclusion of trial for forest -offence, of produce in respect \r\nof which it was committed. \r\n57. Procedure when offender not known, or cannot be found. \r\n58. Procedure as to perishable property seized under section 52. \r\n59. Appeal from orders under section 55, section 56, or section 57. \r\n60. Property when to vest in Government. \r\n61. Power to release a seized property. \r\n62. Punishment for wrongful seizure. \r\n63. Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees and timber and for \r\naltering boundary marks. \r\n64. [Omitted]. \r\n64-A. [Omitted]. \r\n65. Release of accused when evidence deficient. \r\n66. Power to prevent commission of offence. \r\n67. [Omitted]. \r\n68. Power to compound offences. \r\n68-A. Reward in forest cases. \r\n69. Presumption that forest-produce belongs to Government. \r\nCHAPTER X \r\nCattle-trespass \r\n70. Cattle-trespass Act, 1871, to apply. \r\n71. Powers to alter fines. \r\nCHAPTER XI \r\nOf forest-officers \r\n72. Government may invest Forest-officers with certain powers. \r\n73. Public servants. \r\n74. Indemnity. \r\n75. Forest-officers not to trade. \r\nCHAPTER XII \r\nSubsidiary rules \r\n76. Additional powers to make rules. \r\n77. Penalty for breach of rules. \r\n78. Rules when to have force of law. \r\nCHAPTER XII-A \r\nForest Company \r\n78-A. Forest company. \r\n78-B. Procedure for partnership. \r\nCHAPTER XIII \r\nMiscellaneous \r\n79. Persons bound to assist Forest-officers and Police-officers. \r\n79-A. Organized forest offence and punishment \r\n80. Management of forests the joint property of Government and other \r\npersons. \r\n80-A. Public private partnership. \r\n80-B. Protection of vulnerable, endangered and threatened native flora \r\n81. Failure to perform service for which a share in produce of Government \r\nforest is enjoyed. \r\n82. Recovery of money due to Government. \r\n83. Lien on forest-produce for such money. \r\n84. Land required under this Act to be deemed to be needed for a public \r\npurpose under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. \r\n85. Recovery of penalties due under bond. \r\n85A. [Omitted] \r\n86. Repeals. \r\nTHE SCHEDULE \r\n[Repealed]\r\n \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE FOREST ACT, 1927 \r\n(XVI of 1927) \r\n[24 September 1927] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto consolidate the law relating to forests, the transit of forest-produce and the duty \r\nleviable on timber and other forest-produce. \r\n WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the law relating to forests, the transit \r\nof forest-produce and the duty leviable on timber and other forest-produce; \r\n It is hereby enacted as follows:– \r\nCHAPTER I \r\nPreliminary \r\n1. Short title and extent.– (1) This Act may be called the \r\n2\r\n[*] Forest Act, 1927. \r\n(2) \r\n3\r\n[It extends to the Punjab.] \r\n4\r\n[\r\n5\r\n[(3) * * * * * * * * * ]]. \r\n6\r\n[2. Interpretation clause.– In this Act–  \r\n7\r\n[(a)  “brushwood” includes all woody plants, bushes, shrubs and small trees \r\ngrowing on wastelands, reserved forests and protected forests, with the \r\n                                                           \r\n1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1926, Pt. V. p. 165, and for Report of Select Committee, see \r\nibid., p. 242. \r\nIt has been applied to Phulera in the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal to the extent the Act is applicable in the N.W.F.P., and  \r\nextended to the Excluded Area of Upper Tanawal (N.W.F.P.) other than Phulera with effect from such date and subject to such \r\nmodifications as may be notified, see N.W.F.P. (Upper Tanawal) (Excluded Area) Laws Regulation, 1950. \r\nThe Act received the assent of the Governor General on September 21, 1927, published in the Gazette of India, Part IV, dated \r\nSeptember 24, 1927, pp.43-56. \r\n2Omitted the word “Indian” by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949, vide Notification No. G.G.O.4 , dated \r\nMarch 25, 1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949, pp.223-283, Article 3(1).  \r\n3Substituted by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order,  1974 (Pb. O. No. 1 of 1974), (w.e.f. 14.8.1973), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A to 1425 -PP, Article 2 read with Schedule, which were earlier \r\nsubstituted by the Central Adaptation Of Laws Order,  1964 (P.O. No. 1 of 1964), (w.e.f. 28.5.1964), Article 2 read with the \r\nSchedule, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), pp. 251c-251aap, which were earlier substituted by the Central \r\nLaws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (XXI of 1960), (w.e.f. 14.10.1955), s. 3 read with the Second Schedule; published in \r\nthe Gazette of Pakistan, dated June 9, 1960, p p. 725-845, which were earlier substituted by the Repealing and Amending \r\nOrdinance, 1961 (I of 1961), s.  3 read with the Second Schedule, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated \r\nJanuary 24, 1961, pp. 71-100, which were earlier substituted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Act, 1951 (XXVI \r\nof 1951), s.  8, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 12, 1951, p p. 331-388, which were earlier \r\nsubstituted by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinan ces Order, 1949 (G.G.O. No. 4 of 1949), (w.e.f. 28.3.1949), Article 3 \r\nread with Schedule, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), pp. 223-283. \r\n4Substituted by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (XXI of 1960), published in the G azette of Pakistan \r\n(Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp. 725-845, s. 3 read with Second Schedule.  \r\n5Deleted by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. O. No. 1 of 1974), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), \r\ndated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-B, s. 2 read with the Schedule. \r\n6Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 4.  \r\nexception of trees such as pears, apples, plums, cher ries, apricots, \r\npeaches, almonds, citruses, persimmons, pistachios, guavas, litchis \r\nand vines grown thereon; \r\n(aa) “cattle” includes domesticated animal, horned cattle, donkey, ewes, \r\ncamel, buffalo, horse, mare, gelding, pony, bull, colt, filly, mule, ass, \r\nram, sheep, lamb, goat goat, heifer, bullock and cow;] \r\n(b)  “Code” means Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); \r\n8\r\n[(ba)    “Court” means the Court as provided under section 51-J of the Act; \r\n(bb) “Department” means the Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries  Department of \r\nthe Government; \r\n(bc)  “Director General (Forests)”  means the Director General (Forests) as \r\nappointed under section 51-D of the Act; \r\n(bd)  “ecosystem” means an ecological system composed of interacting biotic \r\nand abiotic components of the env ironment, in which trees are the \r\nmajor component; \r\n(be)  “First Information Report” means a written document formulated by an \r\nofficer provided under the Act on a report or information verbal or in \r\nwritten from any officer, official or any person about the c ommission of \r\na cognizable offence punishable under the Act;] \r\n(c)  “forest” means a reserved forest, protected forest, unclassed forest and \r\nvillage forest and includes wasteland or rangeland;  \r\n9\r\n[(ca)   “forest company” means a company established under the Act;]  \r\n(d)  “forest land” means a piece of land notified by the Government as the \r\nforest land to develop, protect and conserve forest and includes a \r\nrangeland and wasteland;  \r\n(e) “forest land use” means use of a piece of land for development, \r\nconservation and preservation of a forest;  \r\n(f)     “forest offence” means an offence punishable under the Act or the rules;  \r\n10\r\n[ * * * * * * * * *  *] \r\n(h) “forest produce” includes the following, whether found in or brought \r\nfrom a forest–  \r\n11\r\n[(ha)  “Forest Protection Ce nter” means a center established or declared as \r\nsuch under section 51-A of the Act;]  \r\n                                                                                                                                                                                     \r\n7Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2. \r\n8Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(b). \r\n9Inserted by the Punjab Forest (Amendment) Act 2016 (X IV of 2016 ), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nFebruary 29, 2016, pp. 4045-4047, s. 2.  \r\n10Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Ga zette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(c). \r\n11Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(d).  \r\n(i) timber, firewood, charcoal, catechu, wood -oil, resin, natural varnish, \r\nbark, lac, mahua flowers, mahaua seeds (kuth) and myrobolam;  \r\n(ii) tree and leaves, flowers, se eds and fruits, and any other part or \r\nproduce not hereinbefore mentioned, of a tree;  \r\n(iii) plant not being a tree (including shrub, grass, creeper, reed, moss, \r\nmushroom, herb, medicinal plant and brushwood) and any other part or \r\nproduce of a plant; \r\n(iv) wild animal and skin, tusk, horn, bone, silk, cocoon, honey, wax and \r\nany other part or produce of an animal; \r\n(v) peat, surface soil, rock and mineral (including limestone, laterite, \r\nmineral oil, and any other product of mines or quarries);  \r\n(vi) natural spring; and  \r\n(vii) any other produce which may be notified as forest produce by the \r\nGovernment.  \r\n(i) “forest settlement officer” means a person appointed by the \r\nGovernment as the forest settlement officer;  \r\n(j) “Government” means the Government of the Punjab;  \r\n12\r\n[(ja) “Investigation Officer” means an investigation officer appointed under    \r\nsection 51-G of the Act; \r\n(jb) \"native flora” means all plant species, including trees, shrubs, herbs, \r\ngrasses, ferns, algae, and fungi, whether found in nature or cultivated,  \r\nin a particular region indigenous to Punjab; \r\n(jc)  “offender” means an accused person who has violated or against \r\nwhom there is reasonable belief or suspicion that he has committed \r\nviolation of the provision of the Act; \r\n(jd)  “officer” means an employee not below the rank of BS -17 and includes \r\na forest officer as provided in sub-section (3) of section 72 of the Act; \r\n(je) “official” means an employee other than the officer for the purposes of \r\nthe  Act; \r\n(jf) “organized forest offence” means an offence  as provided in section 79-\r\nA of the Act; \r\n(jg)  “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under the Act;] \r\n(k) “private public partnership” means management of a forest as joint \r\nventure with a company, individual or entity;  \r\n13\r\n[(ka)  “Prosecutor” means a Prosecutor as provided under section 51-L of the \r\nAct;] \r\n                                                           \r\n12Inserted by the Forest (A mendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(e). \r\n13Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(f). \r\n(l) “protected forest” means a forest notified as protected forest under the \r\nAct; \r\n14\r\n[(la)  “protected species” means protected species declared as such under \r\nsection 80-B of the Act;]  \r\n(m) “reserve forest” m eans a forest notified as reserved forest under the \r\nAct;  \r\n(n)  “river” includes any stream, canal, creek or other channel, natural or \r\nartificial;  \r\n(o)  “rules” means the rules made under the Act; \r\n15\r\n[(oa) “Secretary” means the Secretary to the Government, Fo restry, Wildlife \r\nand Fisheries Department;]  \r\n(p)  “trespass” means a person or persons entering a forest with tools and \r\nequipment helpful in commission of a forest offence;  \r\n(q)  “timber” includes wood (firewood, brushwood, twig, sawdust, chips), \r\nwhether obtained by falling of a tree or plant or without it;  \r\n(r)  “tree” includes a woody plant, palm, bamboo, stump, brushwood and \r\ncane;  \r\n(s)  “unclassed forest” means a wasteland notified as the unclassed forest \r\nunder the Act;  \r\n(t)  “village forests” means a fo rest notified as the village forest under the \r\nAct; \r\n16\r\n[*] \r\n(u)  “wasteland” includes an uncultivated or uncultivable land notified as the \r\nwasteland by the Government\r\n17\r\n[;and] \r\n18\r\n[(v) “whistle-blower” means a person who, in public interest, discloses to \r\nthe office r an actual or suspected violation or offence for cognizance \r\nunder the Act.] \r\nCHAPTER II \r\nOf Reserved Forests \r\n3. Powers to reserve forests.– The \r\n19\r\n[\r\n20\r\n[Government]] may constitute any forest-\r\nland or waste -land which is the property of Government, or over which the \r\n                                                           \r\n14Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(g). \r\n15Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), publishe d in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(h). \r\n16Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(i). \r\n17Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(i). \r\n18Added by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: December \r\n18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.2(i). \r\n19Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n20Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\nGovernment has proprietary rights, or to the whole or any part of the forest -produce \r\nof which the Government is entitled, a reserved forest in the manner hereinafter \r\nprovided. \r\n4. Notification by  \r\n21\r\n[Government].– (1) Whenever it has been decided to \r\nconstitute any land a reserved forest, the  \r\n22\r\n[\r\n23\r\n[Government]] shall issue a notification \r\nin the \r\n24\r\n[Official Gazette] \r\n(a) declaring that it has been decided to constitute such land a reserved \r\nforest; \r\n(b) specifying, as nearly as possible, the situation and limits o f such land; \r\nand \r\n(c) appointing an officer (hereinafter called “the Forest Settlement -officer”) \r\nto inquire into and determine the existence, nature and extent of any \r\nrights alleged to exist in favour of any person in or over any land \r\ncomprised within such limits, or in or over any forest -produce, and to \r\ndeal with the same as provided in this Chapter. \r\nExplanation.– For the purpose of clause (b), it shall be sufficient to describe the \r\nlimits of the forest by roads, rivers, bridges or other well -known or readi ly intelligible \r\nboundaries. \r\n (2) The officer appointed under clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall ordinarily \r\nbe a person not holding any forest-office except that of Forest Settlement-officer. \r\n (3) Nothing in this section shall prevent the  \r\n25\r\n[\r\n26\r\n[Government]] from \r\nappointing any number of officers not exceeding three, not more than one of whom \r\nshall be a person holding any forest -office except as aforesaid, to perform the duties \r\nof a Forest Settlement-officer under this Act. \r\n5. Bar of accrual of forest -rights.– After the issue of a notification under \r\nsection 4, no right shall be acquired in or over the land comprised in such \r\nnotification, except by succession or under a grant or contract in writing made or \r\nentered into by or  \r\n27\r\n[on behalf of  the \r\n28\r\n[Government]] or some person in whom such \r\nright was vested when the notification was issued; and no fresh clearings for \r\n                                                           \r\n21Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n22Ibid.  \r\n23Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n24Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n25Substituted for the words “Local Government” ibid.  \r\n26Substituted for t he words “Provincial Governm ent” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n27Substituted for the words “on behalf of the Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I.  \r\n28Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No. F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\ncultivation or for any other purpose shall be made in such land except in accordance \r\nwith such rules as may be made by the \r\n29\r\n[\r\n30\r\n[Government]] in this behalf. \r\n6. Proclamation by Forest Settlement -officer.– When a notification has been \r\nissued under section 4, the Forest Settlement -officer shall publish in the local \r\nvernacular in every town and village in the neighbourhood of the land comprised \r\ntherein, a proclamation– \r\n(a) specifying, as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of the \r\nproposed forest; \r\n(b) explaining the consequences which, as hereinafter provided, will ensue \r\non the reservation of such forest; and \r\n(c) fixing a period of not less than three mo nths from the date of such \r\nproclamation, and requiring every person claiming any right mentioned \r\nin section 4 or section 5 within such period either to present to the \r\nForest Settlement-officer a written notice specifying or to appear before \r\nhim and state, the nature of such right and the amount and particulars \r\nof the compensation (if any) claimed in respect thereof. \r\n7. Inquiry by Forest Settlement -officer.– The Forest Settlement -officer shall \r\ntake down in writing all statements made under section 6, and sha ll at some \r\nconvenient place inquire into all claims duly preferred under that section, and the \r\nexistence of any rights mentioned in section 4 or section 5 and not claimed under \r\nsection 6 so far as the same may be ascertainable from the records of Governmen t \r\nand the evidence of any persons likely to be acquainted with the same. \r\n8. Powers of Forest Settlement -officer.– For the purpose of such inquiry, the \r\nForest Settlement-officer may exercise the following powers, that is to say:– \r\n(a) power to enter, by hims elf or any officer authorised by him for the \r\npurpose, upon any land, and to survey, demarcate and make a map of \r\nthe same; and \r\n(b) the powers of a Civil Court in the trial of suits. \r\n9. Extinction of rights.– Rights in respect of which no claim has been pref erred \r\nunder section 6, and of the existence of which no knowledge has been acquired by \r\ninquiry under section 7, shall be extinguished, unless, before the notification under \r\nsection 20 is published, the person claiming them satisfies the Forest Settlement -\r\nofficer that he had sufficient cause for not preferring such claim within the period \r\nfixed under section 6. \r\n10. Treatment of claims relating to practice of shifting cultivation .– (1) In the \r\ncase of a claim relating to the practice of shifting cultivation, t he Forest Settlement -\r\nofficer shall record a statement setting forth the particulars of the claim and of any \r\nlocal rule or order under which the practice is allowed or regulated, and submit the \r\n                                                           \r\n29Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n30Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010),  published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\nstatement of the  \r\n31\r\n[\r\n32\r\n[Government]], together with his opinion as  to whether the \r\npractice should be permitted or prohibited wholly or in part. \r\n (2) On receipt of the statement and opinion, the  \r\n33\r\n[\r\n34\r\n[Government]] may \r\nmake an order permitting or prohibiting the practice wholly or in part. \r\n (3) If such practice is permitted wholly or in part, the Forest Settlement -\r\nofficer may arrange for its exercise– \r\n(a) by altering the limits of the land under settlement so as to exclude land \r\nof sufficient extent, of a suitable kind, and in a locality reasonably \r\nconvenient for the purposes of the claimants, or \r\n(b) by causing certain portions of the land under settlement to be \r\nseparately demarcated, and giving permission to the claimants to \r\npractice shifting cultivation therein under such conditions as he may \r\nprescribe. \r\n35\r\n[(3-a) If the admissi on of any claim, right or interest in a forest is found \r\ndetrimental to the forest, the Government may acquire the right or interest in \r\naccordance with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act 1894 (I of 1894) and may \r\nentrust the powers of Collector under  the Land Acquisition Act 1894 (I of 1894) upon \r\na forest settlement officer.] \r\n (4) All arrangements made under sub -section (3) shall be subject to the \r\nprevious sanction of the \r\n36\r\n[\r\n37\r\n[Government]]. \r\n (5) The practice of shifting cultivation shall in all cases b e deemed a \r\nprivilege subject to control, restriction and abolition by the \r\n38\r\n[Government]. \r\n  \r\n39\r\n[(6) The forest settlement officer may permit the practice of shifting \r\ncultivation for a period not exceeding three years, in case of undeveloped wasteland \r\nin order to develop it into a productive forest, in accordance with the provisions of \r\nthis section.] \r\n11. Power to acquire land over which right is claimed .– (1) In the case of a \r\nclaim to a right in or over any land , other than a right-of-way or right of pasture, o r a \r\n                                                           \r\n31Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n32Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n33Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n34Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n35Inserted ibid., s. 5 (a). \r\n36Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n37Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n38Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n39Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the  Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October \r\n21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 5 (b). \r\nright to forest-produce or a water-course, the Forest Settlement -officer shall pass an \r\norder admitting or rejecting the same in whole or in part. \r\n (2) If such claim is admitted in whole or in part, the Forest Settlement -\r\nofficer shall either– \r\n(i) exclude such land from the limits of the proposed forest; or \r\n(ii) come to an agreement with the owner thereof for the surrender of his \r\nrights; or \r\n(iii) proceed to acquire such land in the manner provided by the Land \r\nAcquisition Act, 1894\r\n40\r\n. \r\n(3) For the purpose of so acquiring such land– \r\n(a) the Forest Settlement -officer shall be deemed to be a  \r\n41\r\n[District Officer \r\n(Revenue)] proceeding under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894\r\n42\r\n; \r\n(b) the claimant shall be deemed to be a person interested and appearing \r\nbefore him in pursuance of a notice given under section 9 of that Act; \r\n(c) the provisions of the preceding sections of that Act shall be deemed to \r\nhave been complied with; and \r\n(d) the \r\n43\r\n[District Officer (Revenue)], with the consent of the claimant, or the \r\nCourt, with the cons ent of both parties, may award compensation in \r\nland, or partly in land and partly in money. \r\n12. Order on claims to rights of pasture or to forest-produce.– In the case of a \r\nclaim to rights of pasture or to forest -produce, the Forest Settlement -officer shal l \r\npass an order admitting or rejecting the same in whole or in part. \r\n13. Record to be made by Forest Settlement -officer.– The Forest Settlement -\r\nofficer, when passing any order under section 12, shall record, so far as may be \r\npracticable,– \r\n(a) the name, fat her’s name, caste, residence and occupation of the \r\nperson claiming the right; and \r\n(b) the designation, position and area of all fields or groups of fields (if \r\nany), and the designation and position of all buildings (if any) in respect \r\nof which the exercise of such rights is claimed. \r\n14. Record where he admits claim .– If the Forest Settlement -officer admits in \r\nwhole or in part any claim under section 12, he shall also record the extent to which \r\nthe claim is so admitted, specifying the number and description of the cattle which \r\nthe claimant is from time to time entitled to graze in the forest, the season during \r\nwhich such pasture is permitted, the quantity of timber and other forest -produce \r\nwhich he is from time to time authorised to take or receive, and such other \r\n                                                           \r\n40I of 1894.  \r\n41Substituted for the word “Collector” by the Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Pb. O. No. XLVI of 2001), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 2001, pp. 1811-1812, s. 2. \r\n42I of 1894.  \r\n43Substituted for the word “Collector” by the Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Pb. O. No. XLVI of 2001), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 2001, pp. 1811-1812, s. 2. \r\nparticulars as the case may require. He shall also record whether the timber or other \r\nforest-produce obtained by the exercise of the rights claimed may be sold or \r\nbartered. \r\n15. Exercise of rights admitted .– (1) After making such record the Forest \r\nSettlement-officer shall, to the best of his ability, and having due regard to the \r\nmaintenance of the reserved forest in respect of which the claim is made, pass such \r\norders as will ensure the continued exercise of the rights so admitted. \r\n (2) For this purpose the Forest Settlement-officer may– \r\n(a) set out some other forest -tract of sufficient extent, and in a locality \r\nreasonably convenient, for the purposes of such claimants, and record \r\nan order conferring upon them a right of pasture or to forest -produce \r\n(as the case may be) to the extent so admitted; or \r\n(b) so alter the limits of the proposed forest as to exclude forest -land of \r\nsufficient extent, and in a locality reasonably convenient, for the \r\npurposes of the claimants; or \r\n(c) record an order, continuing to  such claimants a right of pasture or to \r\nforest-produce, as the case may be, to the extent so admitted, at such \r\nseasons, within such portions of the proposed forest, and under such \r\nrules, as may be made in this behalf by the \r\n44\r\n[\r\n45\r\n[Government]]. \r\n16. Commutation of rights .– In case the Forest Settlement -officer finds it \r\nimpossible, having due regard to the maintenance of the reserved forest, to make \r\nsuch settlement under section 15 as shall ensure the continued exercise of the said \r\nrights to the extent so admit ted, he shall, subject to such rules as the  \r\n46\r\n[\r\n47\r\n[Government]] may make in this behalf, commute such rights, by the payment to \r\nsuch persons of a sum of money in lieu thereof, or by the grant of land, or in such \r\nother manner as he thinks fit. \r\n17. Appeal from order passed under section 11, section 12, section 15 or \r\nsection 16.– Any person who has made a claim under this Act, or any Forest -officer \r\nor other person generally or specially empowered by the  \r\n48\r\n[\r\n49\r\n[Government]] in this \r\nbehalf, may, within three months from the date of the order passed on such claim by \r\nthe Forest Settlement-officer under section 11, section 12, section 15 or section 16, \r\npresent an appeal from such order to such officer of the Revenue Department, of rank \r\n                                                           \r\n44Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n45Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n46Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n47Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Ame ndment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n48Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n49Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\nnot lower than that of a \r\n50\r\n[District Officer (Revenue)], as the \r\n51\r\n[\r\n52\r\n[Government]] may, by \r\nnotification in the \r\n53\r\n[Official Gazette], appoint to hear appeals from such orders: \r\n Provided that the  \r\n54\r\n[\r\n55\r\n[Government]] may establish a Court (hereinafter called \r\nthe Forest Court) composed of three persons  to be appointed by the  \r\n56\r\n[\r\n57\r\n[Government]], and, when the Forest Court has been so established, all such \r\nappeals shall be presented to it. \r\n18. Appeal under section 17.– (1) Every appeal under section 17 shall be made \r\nby petition in writing, and may be delive red to the Forest Settlement -officer, who \r\nshall forward it without delay to the authority competent to hear the same. \r\n (2) If the appeal be to an officer appointed under section 17, it shall be \r\nheard in the manner prescribed for the time being for the hear ing of appe als in \r\nmatters relating to land-revenue. \r\n (3) If the appeal be to the Forest Court, the Court shall fix a day and a \r\nconvenient place in the neighbourhood of the proposed forest for hearing the appeal, \r\nand shall give notice thereof to the parties, and shall hear such appeal accordingly. \r\n (4) The order passed on the appeal by such officer or Court, or by the \r\nmajority of the members of such Court, as the case may be, shall, subject to revision \r\nby the \r\n58\r\n[\r\n59\r\n[Government]], be final. \r\n19. Pleaders.– The \r\n60\r\n[\r\n61\r\n[Government]], or any person who has made a claim under \r\nthis Act, may appoint any person to appear, plead and act on its or his behalf before \r\nthe Forest Settlement -officer, or the appellate officer or Court, in the course of any \r\ninquiry or appeal under this Act. \r\n                                                           \r\n50Substituted for the word “Collector” by the Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Pb. O. No. XLVI of 2001), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 2001, pp. 1811-1812, s. 2. \r\n51Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n52Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n53Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n54Substituted for the words “Local Government” ibid.  \r\n55Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n56Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n57Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n58Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n59Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n60Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n61Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n20. Notification declaring forest reserved.– (1) When the following events have \r\noccurred, namely:- \r\n(a) the period fixed under section 6 for preferring claims has elapsed, and \r\nall claims, if any, made under that section or section 9 have been \r\ndisposed of by the Forest Settlement-officer; \r\n(b) if any such claims have been made, the period limited by section 17 for \r\nappealing from the orders passed on such claims has elapsed, and all \r\nappeals (if any) presented within such period have been disposed of by \r\nthe appellate officer or Court; and  \r\n(c) all lands (if any) to be included in the proposed forest, which the Forest \r\nSettlement-officer has, under section 11, elected to acquire under the \r\nLand Acquisition Act, 1894\r\n62\r\n, have become vested in the Government \r\nunder section 16 of that Act,  \r\nthe \r\n63\r\n[\r\n64\r\n[Government]] shall publish a notification in the \r\n65\r\n[Official Gazette], specifying \r\ndefinitely, according to boundary  marks erected or otherwise, the limits of the forest \r\nwhich is to be reserved, and declaring the same to b e reserved from a date fixed by \r\nthe notification. \r\n (2) From the date so fixed such forest shall be deemed to be a reserved \r\nforest. \r\n21. Publication of translation of such notification in neighbourhood of \r\nforest.– The Forest-officer shall, before the date fi xed by such notification, cause a \r\ntranslation thereof into the local vernacular to be published in every town and village \r\nin the neighbourhood of the forest. \r\n22. Power to revise arrangement made under section 15 or section 18 .– The \r\n66\r\n[\r\n67\r\n[Government]] may, within five years from the publication of any notification under \r\nsection 20, revise any arrangement made under section 15 or section 18, and may for \r\nthis purpose rescind or modify any order made under section 15 or section 18, and \r\ndirect that any one of the proceedings specified in section 15 be taken in lieu of any \r\nother of such proceedings, or that the rights admitted under section 12 be commuted \r\nunder section 16. \r\n23. No right acquired over reserved forest, except as here provided .– No \r\nright of any descript ion shall be acquired in or over a reserved forest except by \r\n                                                           \r\n62I of 1894.  \r\n63Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n64Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n65Substituted for the words “local official Gazette ” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n66Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n67Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” b y t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\nsuccession or under a grant or contract in writing made by or  \r\n68\r\n[on behalf of the  \r\n69\r\n[Government]] or some person in whom such right was vested when the notification \r\nunder section 20 was issued. \r\n24. Rights not to be alienated without sanction .– (1) Notwithstanding anything \r\ncontained in section 23, no right continued under clause (c) of sub -section (2) of \r\nsection 15 shall be alienated by way of grant, sale, lease, mortgage or otherwise, \r\nwithout the sanction of the \r\n70\r\n[\r\n71\r\n[Government]]: \r\n Provided that, when any such right is appendant to any land or house, it may \r\nbe sold or otherwise alienated with such land or house. \r\n (2) No timber or other forest-produce obtained in exercise of any such right \r\nshall be sol d or bartered except to such extent as may have been admitted in the \r\norder recorded under section 14. \r\n25. Power to stop ways and water -courses in reserved forests .– The Forest-\r\nofficer may, with the previous sanction of the \r\n72\r\n[\r\n73\r\n[Government]] or of any office r duly \r\nauthorised by it in this behalf, stop any public or private way or water -course in a \r\nreserved forest, provided that a substitute for the way or water -course so stopped, \r\nwhich the  \r\n74\r\n[\r\n75\r\n[Government]] deems to be reasonably convenient, already exists, or  \r\nhas been provided or constructed by the Forest-officer in lieu thereof. \r\n76\r\n[26. Offences relating to reserved forests .– 77[(1) A person shall be punished \r\nwith imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years but not less than five \r\nyears and with fine which shall not be less than five hundred thousand rupees but \r\nnot more than five million rupees, along with confiscation of the weapon, article, \r\nforest produce, vehicle, equipment, machinery, cart, boat, cattle or any other article \r\nor animal used in commis sion of offence in addition to the value of the damage \r\ncaused due to offence assessed under sub -section (3) and in case of non -payment \r\nof fine, shall undergo six months imprisonment, who in a reserved forest: \r\n(a) kindles fire or burns fire in the manner which endangers the forest or \r\nsets on fire any plant or tree; \r\n                                                           \r\n68Substituted for the words “on behalf of the Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I.  \r\n69Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n70Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations. \r\n71Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n72Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n73Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n74Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General Adaptations.  \r\n75Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n76Ibid., s. 6. \r\n77Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of  2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(a). \r\n(b) cuts or fells any plant or tree; \r\n(c) quarries stones, mines, minerals, burns lime or charcoal, or collects or \r\nremove any forest produce; \r\n(d) constructs any building, structure, hutment or cattle pen; \r\n(e) clears or breaks up any land for cultivation or any other purpose; \r\n(f) encroaches upon the forest land; \r\n(g) changes the land use for the purpose other than development, \r\npreservation    or conservation of the forest or park; and \r\n(h) installs a saw mill, charcoal kiln or establishes timber or firewood depot \r\nor operates any mechanical aid designed to cut, fashion or convert  a \r\ntree or timber or fabricates wood into articles of furniture, building \r\nmaterials, joinery or articles of domestic or commercial use in or \r\nwithin five-mile radius of the forest.  \r\n(2) A person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may \r\nextend to five years but not less than three years and with fine which shall not be \r\nless than one hundred thousand rupees not more than  one million rupees, along \r\nwith confiscation of the weapon, article, forest produce, vehicles, equipment, \r\nmachinery, cart, boat, cattle or any other article or animal used in commission of \r\noffence in addition to the damage provided under sub-section (3) and in case of non-\r\npayment of fine, shall undergo six months imprisonment, who in a reserved forest: \r\n(a) makes fresh clearing which is prohibited under section 5; \r\n(b) causes damage by negligently felling a tree, cutting or dragging any   \r\ntimber; \r\n(c) fells, girdles, lops, taps or burns a tree or strips off a bark or leaves of a \r\ntree or   otherwise damages the same; \r\n(d) contravenes any rules relating to hunting, shooting, fishing, or setting \r\nup traps or snares; \r\n(e) kindles, keeps or carries any fire except duri ng such season as the \r\nofficer may notify in this behalf; \r\n(f) trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass or leaves \r\ncattle for grazing intentionally; \r\n(g) removes or causes damage to the soil, water, natural vegetation \r\n(shrubs, herbs and plants), fish, wild animals and wild birds; and \r\n(h) damages any structures such as water channel, check dam, \r\nembankment, reservoir or pond.] \r\n (3) The value of the damage caused due to the offence 78[* * *\r\n *             * *           * *] amount of fine for the  offence] shall be as \r\nfollows:–  \r\n                                                           \r\n78Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gaz ette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(i).  \r\n(a)  if the damage is worth one thousand rupees or less, the 79[value of \r\ndamage] may extend to 80[twenty] thousand rupees  81[but shall not be \r\nless than the 82[**] damage caused to the forest produce assessed by \r\nthe Department]; \r\n(b)  if the damage is worth more than one thousand rupees but less than \r\nten thousand rupees, the 83[value of damage]  may extend to 84[one \r\nhundred] thousand rupees 85[but shall not be less than the 86[**] damage \r\ncaused to the forest produce assessed by the Department];  \r\n(c)  if the damage is worth more than ten thousand rupees but less than \r\ntwenty-five thousand rupees, the 87[value of damage]  may extend to \r\n88[two hundred]  thousand rupees  89[but shall not be less than the 90[**] \r\ndamage caused to the forest produce assessed by the Department];  \r\n(d)  if the damage is worth more than twenty -five thousand rupees but less \r\nthan one hundred thousand rupees, the 91[value of damage] may extend \r\nto 92[one million]  rupees 93[but shall not be less than the 94[**] damage \r\ncaused to the forest produce assessed by the Department]  \r\n                                                           \r\n79Substituted for the word \"fine\"  by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(ii). \r\n80Substituted for the word \"ten\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(ii). \r\n81Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n82Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(ii). \r\n83Substituted for the word \"fine\"  by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2 025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 18 December 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(i). \r\n84Substituted for the word \"fifty\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(i). \r\n85Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n86Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), publi shed in the Punjab Ga zette (Extraordinary), dated:  \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(i). \r\n87Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(ii). \r\n88Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(ii). \r\n89Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Ga zette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n90Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(ii). \r\n91Substituted by the Forest (A mendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(iii). \r\n92Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(iii). \r\n93Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n94Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025) , published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(iii). \r\n(e)  if the damage is worth more than one hundred thousand rupees, the \r\nfine may extend to ten times 95[**] the damage 96[but shall not be less \r\nthan the value of damage caused to the forest produce assessed by \r\nDepartment]. \r\n97[(3-a) In case an offender refuses to pay the value of damage and 98[* *\r\n *             *        *       *  *] the imprisonment period shall be: \r\n(a) 99[one month] if the damage is worth above twenty-five thousand rupees \r\nbut less than fifty thousand rupees; \r\n(b) 100[two months] if the damage is worth above fifty thousand rupees but \r\nless than seventy-five thousand rupees; \r\n(c) 101[three months]  if the damage is worth above seventy -five thousand \r\nrupees but less than one hundred thousand rupees; \r\n(d) 102[six months] if the damag e is worth above one hundred thousand \r\nrupees but less than one hundred fifty thousand rupees; \r\n(e) 103[eight months] if the damage is worth above one hundred fifty \r\nthousand rupees but less than two hundred fifty thousand rupees; \r\n(f) 104[ten months] if the damage is worth above two hundred fifty thousand \r\nrupees but less than five hundred thousand rupees; \r\n(g) 105[one year]  if the damage is worth above five hundred thousand \r\nrupees but less than seven hundred thousand rupees; \r\n(h) 106[eighteen months] if the damage is worth above seven hundred \r\nthousand rupees but less than ten hundred thousand rupees; and \r\n                                                           \r\n95Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(b)(iv). \r\n96Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n97Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazett e (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n98Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(i). \r\n99Substituted for the words \"seven days\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(ii). \r\n100Substituted for the words \"ten days\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in  the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(iii). \r\n101Substituted for the words \"fifteen days\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(iv). \r\n102Substituted for the words \"one month\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(v).  \r\n103Substituted for the words \"two months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(vi).  \r\n104Substituted for the words \"three months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(vii). \r\n105Substituted for the words \"four months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(viii).  \r\n106Substituted for the words \"five months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gaz ette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(ix). \r\n(i) 107[two years]  if the damage is worth above ten hundred thousand \r\nrupees.] \r\n (4) If a person commits any offence under this section after sunset and \r\nbefore sunrise or where the person has b een previously convicted for a forest \r\noffence, the person shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment 108[for seven years \r\nand fine provided under sub -section (2) and double of the value of the damage \r\nprovided in sub-section (3)], or to both.  \r\n (5)  Nothing in this section shall be deemed as an offence, if the act is \r\ndone–  \r\n(a)  with the permission in writing of the forest officer, or in accordance with \r\nthe rules; and  \r\n(b)  in exercise of any right under the Act, rules, grant or contract made by \r\nthe Government.  \r\n (6) If fire in a reserved forest is caused willfully or by gross negligence, the \r\nGovernment may suspend exercise of any or all rights of pasture or to forest \r\nproduce, for such period as it may determine.  \r\n (7) The Government may, after affording an o pportunity of hearing and for \r\nreasons to be recorded in writing, extinguish a right or interest of a person in a \r\nreserved forest.  \r\n (8) The forest officer shall seize the forest produce in respect of which an \r\noffence is committed together with any tool, ca rriage wagon, cart or other vehicle for \r\ntransport and anything used in the commission of the offence.] \r\n 109[(9) The offence punishable under sub -sections (1), (2), (4) of this section, \r\nsection 53 and section 79 -A shall be cognizable, non -bailable and triable  by the \r\nCourt. \r\n (10) Any provision for which no specific penalty is provided under the Act, \r\nshall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years but \r\nnot less than one year and with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand \r\nrupees but not less than twenty thousand rupees  in addition to the value of the \r\ndamage caused due to the offence as assessed by the Department as provided in \r\nsub-section (3).] \r\n110\r\n[26-A. Removal of encroachment s, etc., from Reserved Forests .– (1) A Court \r\nconvicting an accused person of an offence under clause (h) of sub -section (1) of \r\nsection 26 shall direct the accused, if he or any other person on his behalf be in \r\npossession of the land in respect of which he is convicted, to deliver possession of \r\nthe same with in such period not exceeding thirty days, as the Court may fix in this \r\n                                                           \r\n107Substituted for the words \"six m onths\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(c)(x). \r\n108Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extr aordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(d). \r\n109Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.3(e). \r\n110Inserted by the Forest (West Pakistan  Amendment) Act, 1964 (XVII of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan \r\n(Extraordinary), dated March 17, 1964, pp. 833-834, s. 2. \r\nbehalf, to the prescribed Forest Officer, and to remove within the said period any \r\nencroachments which the accused may have put up or erected on such land.  \r\n \r\n111\r\n[(2) If the Court directs an accused person under sub -section (1) to deliver \r\npossession of land in a reserved forest to the prescribed forest officer or to remove \r\nthe encroachment and the person fails to deliver the possession or remove the \r\nencroachment within the specified period, the Court may–  \r\n(a)  direct ejectment of the person from the land or removal of the \r\nencroachment with such force as may be necessary and in such \r\nmanner as may be prescribed;  \r\n(b) impose upon the accused person, a fine which may extend to 112[ten] \r\nthousand r upees for every day, after the period fixed by the Court \r\nunder the provisions of sub -section (1) has expired and the person \r\nremains in possession of the land or fails to remove  the encroachment \r\non such land, 113[and may order for imprisonment till removal of  \r\nencroachment] \r\n(c)  direct the accused person to pay to the Government the expenditure \r\nincurred by the Government on removal of the encroachment.]  \r\n114\r\n[27. Power to declare forest no longer reserved .– (1) The Government shall not \r\ndeclare or notify a reserved  forest or any part of the reserved forest as being no \r\nlonger reserved forest.  \r\n (2) The Government shall not allow change in land use of a reserved \r\nforest, except for the purposes of right of way, building of roads and development of \r\na forest park, but the Government shall not allow construction of concrete building or \r\npermanent structure in the reserved forest.] \r\n \r\n115\r\n[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Government, \r\nwith the approval of the Provincial Cabinet, may, by notification in t he official \r\nGazette, declare a reserved forest or any part of a reserved forest as no longer \r\nreserved forest, if the organization requiring reserved forest land:  \r\n(a)  satisfies the Government with cogent reasons in writing that there is no \r\nother option but to use the proposed reserved forest land for purposes \r\nof a national project of strategic importance;  \r\n(b)  provide a substitute plant -able land agreed to by the Government, \r\nwhich is:  \r\n(i)  equal to or bigger than the reserved forest land;  \r\n                                                           \r\n111Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated  \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 7.  \r\n112Substituted for the word \"one\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.4(a).  \r\n113Inserted by the Forest (Amendment)  Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.4(b).   \r\n114Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 8.  \r\n115Inserted by the Punjab Forest (Amendment) Act 2016 (XXVI of 2016), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nApril 20, 2016, pp. 4661-4662, s. 2. \r\n(ii)  in a com pact form and is, as far as possible, situated close to \r\nthe reserved forest land; and  \r\n(c)  provide funds for immediate forestation and maintenance of the \r\nsubstitute land as may be prescribed. \r\n (4) The Government shall, by notification, declare the substit ute land \r\nprovided under subsection (3) as the reserved forest.] \r\n          \r\n116\r\n[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, in case of a project \r\nof the national importance of the Federal Government or the Government or its \r\nowned or controlled organ ization, institution or entity, authority or agency, the \r\nGovernment may, on such terms and conditions as it may prescribe, declare a \r\nreserved forest or any part of a reserved forest as no longer reserved forest.]  \r\nCHAPTER III \r\nOf village-forests \r\n28. Formation of village-forests.– (1) The \r\n117\r\n[\r\n118\r\n[Government]] may assign to any \r\nvillage-community the rights of Government to or over any land which has been \r\nconstituted a reserved forest, and may cancel such assignment. All forests so \r\nassigned shall be called village-forests. \r\n \r\n119\r\n[(2) The Government may make rules for management of a village -forest, \r\nconditions under which the village community may use the forest produce other than \r\ntimber and pasture and duties of the village community for the protection and \r\nimprovement of the forest.] \r\n (3) All the provisions of this Act relating to reserved forests shall (so far as \r\nthey are not inconsistent with the rules so made) apply to village-forests. \r\n120\r\n[28-A. Unclassed forests .– (1) The Government may, by notification, declare a \r\nwasteland, not being a reserved forest or protected forest, as unclassed forest.  \r\n (2) The Government may, by notification, direct that all or any provisions of \r\nthis Act relating to a reserved forest or protected forest, shall apply to an unclassed \r\nforest.  \r\n (3) The Government may make rules for management of an unclassed \r\nforest.] \r\nCHAPTER IV \r\nOf protected forests \r\n                                                           \r\n116Added by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXI of 2026 ), published in the Punjab Gazette ( Extraordinary), dated May 06, \r\n2026, pp. 5831-5832, s. 2. \r\n117Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1 , 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n118Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n119Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 9.  \r\n120Ibid., s.10.  \r\n29. Protected forests .– (1) The  \r\n121\r\n[\r\n122\r\n[Government]] may, by notification in the  \r\n123\r\n[Official Gazette], declare the provisions of this Chapter applicable to any forest -\r\nland or waste -land which is not included in a reserved forest, but which is the \r\nproperty of Government, or over which the Government has proprietary rights, or to \r\nthe whole or any part of the forest-produce of which the Government is entitled. \r\n (2) The forest -land and waste -lands comprised in any such notification \r\nshall be called a “protected forest”. \r\n (3) No such notification shall be made unless the nature and extent of the \r\nrights of Government and of private persons in or over the forest -land or waste-land \r\ncomprised therein have been inquired into and recorded at a survey or settlement, or \r\nin such other manner as the  \r\n124\r\n[\r\n125\r\n[Government]] thinks sufficient. Every such record \r\nshall be presumed to be correct until the contrary is proved: \r\n Provided tha t, if, in the case of any forest -land or waste -land, the  \r\n126\r\n[\r\n127\r\n[Government]] thinks that such inquiry and record are necessary, but that they \r\nwill occupy such length of time as in the meantime to endanger the rights of \r\nGovernment, the \r\n128\r\n[\r\n129\r\n[Government]] may, pending such inquiry and record, declare \r\nsuch land to be a protected forest, but so as not to abridge or affect any existing \r\nrights of individuals or communities. \r\n30. Power to issue notification reserving trees, etc .– The \r\n130\r\n[\r\n131\r\n[Government]] \r\nmay, by notification in the \r\n132\r\n[Official Gazette],– \r\n                                                           \r\n121Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of I ndia (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n122Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendm ent) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n123Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in  the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n124Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the  Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n125Substituted for the words “Pro vincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n126Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n127Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n128Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n129Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n130Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of  India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n131Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amen dment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n132Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n(a) declare any trees or class of trees in a protected forest to be reserved \r\nfrom a date fixed by the notification; \r\n(b) declare that any portion of such forest specified in the notification shall \r\nbe closed for such term, not exceeding thirty years, as the \r\n133\r\n[\r\n134\r\n[Government]] thinks fit, and that the rights of private persons, if any, \r\nover such portion shall be suspended during such term, provided that the \r\nremainder of such forest be sufficient, and in a locality reasonably \r\nconvenient, for the due exercise of the rights suspended in the portion so \r\nclosed; or \r\n(c) prohibit, from a date fixed as aforesaid, the quarrying of stone, or the \r\nburning of lime or charcoal, or the collection or subjection to any \r\nmanufacturing process, or remov al of, any forest -produce in any such \r\nforest, and the breaking up or clearing for cultivation, for building, for \r\nherding cattle or for any other purpose, of any land in any such forest. \r\n31. Publication of translation of such notification in neighbourhood .– The \r\n135\r\n[District Officer (Revenue)]  shall cause a translation into the local vernacular of \r\nevery notification issued under section 30 to be affixed in a conspicuous place in \r\nevery town and village in the neighbourhood of the forest comprised in the \r\nnotification. \r\n136\r\n[32. Power to make rules for protected forests .– The Government may make \r\nrules to regulate the following matters in relation to a protected forest–  \r\n(a) cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber, and the \r\ncollection, manufacture and removal of forest-produce;  \r\n(b) granting of licence to an inhabitant of a town or village in the vicinity of \r\nthe protected forest to use forest produce and withdrawal of the \r\nlicence;  \r\n(c) granting of licence to a person for felling or removing a tree or timber or \r\nother forest -produce for the purpose of trade and withdrawal of the \r\nlicence;  \r\n(d) payment that a licensee is required to make in respect of the licence, \r\ntree, timber or forest produce;  \r\n(e) examination of forest produce passing out of the forest;  \r\n(f) clearing or breaking up of land for cultivation or any other purpose;  \r\n(g) protection from fire of the timber lying in the forest and a tree reserved \r\nunder section 30;  \r\n(h) cutting of grass and pasturing of cattle;  \r\n                                                           \r\n133Substituted for the words “Local Government” ibid.  \r\n134Substituted for the words “Provincial  Government” by t he Forest (Amendment ) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n135Substituted for the word “Collector” by the Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Pb. O. No. XLVI of 2001), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 2001, pp. 1811-1812, s. 2. \r\n136Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 11.  \r\n(i) hunting, shooting, fishing, poisoning water and setting trap or snare;  \r\n(j) protection and management of any portion of the forest closed under \r\nsection 30;  \r\n(k) exercise of a right under section 29;  \r\n(l) quarrying or mining of stones or minerals, burning of lime or charcoal, \r\ncollection or removal of any forest produce;  \r\n(m) soil, water, natural vegetation, fish, wild animals and wild birds;  \r\n(n) change of land use in the forest;  \r\n(o) protection of the forest land from encroachment; \r\n137[(oa) pr otection and improvement of ecosystem and devis e of forest \r\nmanagement plan;] \r\n(p) water channels, check dams, embankments, reservoirs and ponds;  \r\n(q) construction of a building, structure, hutment and cattle pen;  \r\n(r) installation of a saw mill or operation of any mechanical aid designed to \r\ncut, fashion or convert tree or timber or fabrication of wood into articles \r\nof furniture, building material, joinery or articles of domestic or \r\ncommercial use in the forest or within five miles radius of the forest; \r\nand  \r\n(s) barbed wire fence in or around the forest.] \r\n138\r\n[33. Offences relating to protected forests .– (1) A person, who in a protected \r\nforest–  \r\n(a) fells, 139[cuts],  girdles, lops, taps or burns a tree reserved under section \r\n30, or strips off the bark or leaves from, or otherwise damages, the \r\ntree;  \r\n(b) contrary to any prohibition under section 30, quarries any stone, or \r\nburns any lime or charcoal, or collects, subjects to any manufacturing \r\nprocess, or removes any forest produce;  \r\n(c) contrary to any prohibition under section 30, breaks up or clears for \r\ncultivation or any other purpose any land of the forest;  \r\n(d) sets or kindles fire without taking reasonable precautions to prevent its \r\nspreading to any tree reserved under section 30, whether standing, \r\nfallen or felled, or to any closed portion of the forest; \r\n(e) leaves any fire burning in the vicinity of any reserved tree or closed \r\nportion of the forest;  \r\n(f) fells any tree or drags any timber and damages any reserved tree;  \r\n                                                           \r\n137Inserted by the Forest (Amen dment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.5.  \r\n138Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 12. \r\n139Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(i).  \r\n(g) permits cattle to damage any reserved tree s, 140[or leave cattle for \r\ngrazing or graze]  and  \r\n(h) infringes any rule made under section 32;  \r\n shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of this section.  \r\n 141[(2) Any offence provided in sub -section (1) except its clauses (f) and (g), \r\nshall be punished with imprisonment for a term which  may extend to five years but \r\nnot less than three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand \r\nrupees and not more than one million rupees, along with confiscation of the weapon, \r\narticle, forest produce, vehicle, equipment, machinery, ca ttle or any other article or \r\nanimal used in commission of offence in addition to the value of the damage caused \r\ndue to offence as provided in sub-section (3).] \r\n  (3) The value of the damage caused due to the offence 142[* * *\r\n *        *] for the offence shall be as follows:–  \r\n(a) if the damage is worth one thousand rupees or less, the 143[value of \r\ndamage] may extend to 144[twenty] thousand rupees 145[but shall not be \r\nless than the value of damage caused to the forest produce assessed \r\nby the Department];  \r\n(b) if the damage is worth more than one thousand rupees but less than \r\nten thousand rupees, the 146[value of damage]  may extend to 147[one \r\nhundred] thousand rupees  148[but shall not be less than the 149[**] \r\ndamage caused to the forest produce assessed by the Department]; \r\n(c) if the damage is worth more than ten thousand rupees but less than \r\ntwenty-five thousand rupees, the 150[value of damage]  may extend to \r\n                                                           \r\n140Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(ii).  \r\n141Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(b). \r\n142Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(i). \r\n143Substituted for the word \"fine\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punj ab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(ii).  \r\n144Substituted for the word \"ten\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(ii).  \r\n145Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n146Substituted for the word \"fine\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published  in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(iii).   \r\n147Substituted for the word \"fifty\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(iii).   \r\n148Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n149Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in th e Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(ii).  \r\n150Substituted for the word \"fine\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gaz ette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(iv).  \r\n151[two hundred] thousand rupees 152[but shall not be less than the 153[**] \r\ndamage caused to the forest produce assessed by the Department];  \r\n(d) if the damage is worth more than twenty -five thousand rupees but less \r\nthan one hundred thousand rupees, the 154[value of damage]  may \r\nextend to 155[one million] rupees 156[but shall not be less than the 157[**] \r\ndamage caused to the forest produce  assessed by the Department ]; \r\nand  \r\n(e) if the damage is worth more than one hundred thousand rupees, the \r\nfine may extend to ten times 158[**] the damage 159[but shall not be less \r\nthan the value of damage caused to the forest produce assessed by \r\nDepartment].  \r\n 160[(3-a) In case an offender refuses to pay the value of damage and 161[*******], \r\nthe imprisonment period shall be: \r\n(a) 162[one month]  if the damage is worth above twenty -five thousand \r\nrupees but less than fifty thousand rupees; \r\n(b) 163[two months] if the damage is worth  above fifty thousand rupees but \r\nless than seventy-five thousand rupees; \r\n(c) 164[three months]  if the damage is worth above seventy -five thousand \r\nrupees but less than one hundred thousand rupees; \r\n(d) 165[six months] if the damage is worth above one hundred thousand \r\nrupees but less than one hundred fifty thousand rupees; \r\n                                                           \r\n151Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(iv).  \r\n152Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in  the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n153Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary) , dated:  \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(iv).   \r\n154Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Ga zette (Extraordinary), dated:  \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(v).   \r\n155Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gaz ette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(v).   \r\n156Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n157Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2 025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gaz ette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(v).   \r\n158Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gaz ette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(c)(vi).   \r\n159Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n160Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXV II of 2022), published in  the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 \r\nOctober 2022, pp. 1689-1690, s.3. \r\n161Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(i).   \r\n162Substituted for the words \"seven days\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(ii).   \r\n163Substituted for the words \"ten days\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(iii).   \r\n164Substituted for the words \"fifteen days\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(iv).   \r\n(e) 166[eight months] if the damage is worth above one hundred fifty \r\nthousand rupees but less than two hundred fifty thousand rupees; \r\n(f) 167[ten months] if the damage is worth above two hundred fifty thousand \r\nrupees but less than five hundred thousand rupees; \r\n(g) 168[one year]  if the damage is worth above five hundred thousand \r\nrupees but less than seven hundred thousand rupees; \r\n(h) 169[eighteen months] if the damage is worth above seven hundred \r\nthousand rupees but less than ten hundred thousand rupees; and \r\n(i) 170[two years]  if the damage is worth above ten hundred thousand \r\nrupees.] \r\n (4) If a person commits any offence under this section after sunset and \r\nbefore sunrise or where the person has been previously convicted for a forest \r\noffence, the person shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment 171[for seven years \r\nand fine provided under sub -section (2) and double of the value of the damage \r\nprovided in sub-section (3)] or to both.  \r\n (5) Nothing in this section shall be deemed as an off ence, if the act is \r\ndone–  \r\n(a) with the permission in writing of the forest officer, or in accordance with \r\nthe rules; and  \r\n(b) in exercise of any right under the Act, rules, grant or contract made by \r\nthe Government.  \r\n (6) If fire in a protected forest is caused willfully or by gross negligence, the \r\nGovernment may suspend exercise of any or all rights of pasture or to forest \r\nproduce, for such period as it may determine.] \r\n172[(7) The offence punishable under sub -sections (2) and (4) shall be \r\ncognizable, non-bailable and triable by the Court.] \r\n173\r\n[33-A. Power of Court to  evict trespassers.– (1) A Court convicting an accused \r\nperson of an offence under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 33, shall direct the \r\n                                                                                                                                                                                     \r\n165Substituted for the words \"one month\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(v).   \r\n166Substituted for the words \"two months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(vi).   \r\n167Substituted for the words \"three months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(vii).   \r\n168Substituted for the words \"four months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(viii).   \r\n169Substituted for the words \"five months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(ix).   \r\n170Substituted for the words \"six months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(d)(x).   \r\n171Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), pu blished in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(e). \r\n172Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated:   \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.6(f).  \r\n173Inserted by the Forest (West Pakistan Amendment) Act, 1964 (XVII of 1964), published in the Gazette of West Pakistan \r\n(Extraordinary), dated March 17, 1964, pp. 833-834, s. 3. \r\naccused, if he or any other person on his behalf be in  possession of the land in \r\nrespect of which he is convicted to deliver possession of the same within such period \r\nnot exceeding thirty days as the Court may fix in this behalf, to the prescribed Forest \r\nOfficer, and to remove within the said period any encro achment which the accused \r\nmay have put up or erected on such land.  \r\n \r\n174\r\n[(2) If a person fails to deliver possession of land to the forest officer or to \r\nremove the encroachment in contravention of th e order of the Court under sub -\r\nsection (1)– \r\n(a) the Court m ay order ejectment of the person from the land or removal \r\nof the encroachment with such force as may be necessary and in the \r\nmanner as may be prescribed; \r\n(b) the person shall be liable to fine which may extend to 175[ten] thousand \r\nrupees for every day during which the person remains in possession of \r\nthe land or fails to remove the encroachment after the expiry of the \r\nperiod fixed by the Court under sub-section (1), 176[and may order for \r\nimprisonment till removal of encroachment]; and  \r\n(c) the Government may reco ver from the person the expenditures \r\nincurred on removal of the encroachment as arrears of land revenue.]] \r\n34. Nothing in this Chapter to prohibit acts done in certain cases.– Nothing in \r\nthis Chapter shall be deemed to prohibit any act done with the permis sion in writing \r\nof the Forest -officer, or in accordance with rules made under section 32, or , except \r\nas regards any portion of a forest closed under section 30, or as regards any rights \r\nthe exercise of which has been suspended under section 33, in the exer cise of any \r\nright recorded under section 29. \r\n177\r\n[34-A. Power to declare forest no longer protected .– (1) The Government shall \r\nnot declare or notify a protected forest or any part of the protected forest as being no \r\nlonger protected forest.  \r\n(2) The Governmen t shall not allow change in land use of a protected \r\nforest, except for the purposes of right of way, building of roads and development of \r\na forest park, but the Government shall not allow construction of concrete building or \r\npermanent structure in the protected forest.]  \r\n \r\n178\r\n[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Government, \r\nwith the approval of the Provincial Cabinet, may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, declare a protected forest or any part of a protected forest as no longer \r\nprotected forest, if the organization requiring reserved forest land:  \r\n                                                           \r\n174Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 13. \r\n175Substituted for the word \"one\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.7(a). \r\n176Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.7(b). \r\n177Ibid., s. 14. \r\n178Inserted by the Punjab Forest (Amendment) Act 2016 (XXVI of 2016), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nApril 20, 2016, pp. 4661-4662, s. 3. \r\n(a) satisfies the Government with cogent reasons in writing that there is no \r\nother option but to use the proposed protected forest land for purposes \r\nof a national project of strategic importance;  \r\n(b) provide a substitute plant -able land agreed to by the Government, \r\nwhich is:  \r\n(i) equal to or bigger than the protected forest land; \r\n(ii) in a compact form and is, as far as possible, situated close to \r\nthe protected forest land; and \r\n(c) provide funds for immediate forestation and maintenance of the \r\nsubstitute land as may be prescribed. \r\n (4) The Government shall, by notification, declare the substitute land \r\nprovided under subsection (3) as the protected forest.] \r\n179[(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, in case of a project \r\nof national importance of the Federal Government or the Government or its owned \r\nor controlled organization, institution or entity, authority or agency, the Government \r\nmay, on such terms and conditions as it m ay prescribe, declare a protected forest or \r\nany part of a protected forest as no longer protected forest.] \r\n \r\nCHAPTER V \r\nOf the control over forests and lands not being  \r\nthe property of Government \r\n35. Protection of forests for special purposes .– (1) The \r\n180\r\n[\r\n181\r\n[Government]] \r\nmay, by notification in the \r\n182\r\n[Official Gazette], regulate or prohibit in any forest or \r\nwaste-land– \r\n(a) the breaking up or clearing of land for cultivation; \r\n(b) the pasturing of cattle; or \r\n(c) the firing or clearing of the vegetation; \r\nwhen such regulation or prohibition appears necessary for any of the following \r\npurposes:– \r\n(i) for protection against storms, winds, rolling stones, floods and \r\navalanches; \r\n(ii) for the preservation of the soil on the ridges and slopes and in the \r\nvalleys of hilly trac ts, the prevention of land -slips or of the formation of \r\n                                                           \r\n179Added by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXI of 2026 ), published in the Punjab Gazett e (Extraordinary), dated May 06, \r\n2026, pp. 5831-5832, s. 3. \r\n180Substituted for the words “Loca l Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n181Substituted for the wo rds “Provinci al Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n182Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of In dian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\nravines and torrents, or the protection of land against erosion, or the \r\ndeposit thereon of sand, stones or gravel; \r\n(iii) for the maintenance of a water-supply in springs, rivers and tanks; \r\n(iv) for th e protection of roads, bridges, railways and other lines of \r\ncommunication; \r\n(v) for the preservation of the public health. \r\n (2) The \r\n183\r\n[\r\n184\r\n[Government]] may, for any such purpose, construct at its own \r\nexpense, in or upon any forest or waste-land, such work as it thinks fit. \r\n (3) No notification shall be made under sub -section (1) nor shall any work \r\nbe begun under sub-section (2), until after the issue of a notice to the owner of such \r\nforest or land calling on him to show cause, within a reasonable period to be \r\nspecified in such notice, why such notification should not be made or work \r\nconstructed, as the case may be, and until his objections, if any, and any evidence \r\nhe may produce in support of the same, have been heard by an officer duly \r\nappointed in that behalf and have been considered by the \r\n185\r\n[\r\n186\r\n[Government]]. \r\n36. Power to assume management of forests.– (1) In case of neglect of, or wilful \r\ndisobedience to, any regulation or prohibition under section 35, or if the purposes of \r\nany work to be constructed under that section so require, the \r\n187\r\n[\r\n188\r\n[Government]] may, \r\nafter notice in writing to the owner of such forest or land and after considering his \r\nobjections, if any, place the same under the control of a Forest -officer, and may \r\ndeclare that all or any of the provisions  of this Act relating to reserved forests shall \r\napply to such forest or land. \r\n (2) The net profits, if any, arising from the management of such forest or \r\nland shall be paid to the said owner. \r\n37. Expropriation of forests in certain cases .– (1) In any case  under this \r\nChapter in which the \r\n189\r\n[\r\n190\r\n[Government]] considers that, in lieu of placing the forest or \r\nland under the control of a Forest -officer, the same should be acquired for public \r\n                                                           \r\n183Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian  Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n184Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 201 0), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n185Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordi nary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations. \r\n186Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n187Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Ta ble of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n188Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n189Substituted for the words “Loc al Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n190Substituted for the wo rds “Provinc ial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\npurposes, the \r\n191\r\n[\r\n192\r\n[Government]] may proceed to acquire it in the manner prov ided \r\nby the Land Acquisition Act, 1894\r\n193\r\n. \r\n (2) The owner of any forest or land comprised in any notification under \r\nsection 35 may, at any time not less than three or more than twelve years from the \r\ndate thereof, require that such forest or land shall be acq uired for public purposes, \r\nand the \r\n194\r\n[\r\n195\r\n[Government]] shall acquire such forest or land accordingly. \r\n38. Protection of forests at request of owners.– (1) The owner of any land or, if \r\nthere be more than one owner thereof, the owners of shares therein amountin g in \r\nthe aggregate to at least two -thirds thereof may, with a view to the formation or \r\nconservation of forests thereon, represent in writing to the \r\n196\r\n[District Officer \r\n(Revenue)] their desire– \r\n(a) that such land be managed on their behalf by the Forest -officer as a \r\nreserved or a protected forest on such terms as may be mutually \r\nagreed upon; or \r\n(b) that all or any of the provisions of this Act be applied to such land. \r\n (2) In either case, the  \r\n197\r\n[\r\n198\r\n[Government]] may, by notification in the  \r\n199\r\n[Official Gazette], apply to such land such provisions of this Act as it thinks suitable \r\nto the circumstances thereof and as may be desired by the applicants. \r\nCHAPTER VI \r\nOf the duty on timber and other forest-produce \r\n39. Power to impose duty on timber and other forest -produce.– (1) The \r\n200\r\n[\r\n201\r\n[\r\n202\r\n[Government]]] may levy a duty in such manner, at such places and at such \r\n                                                           \r\n191Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n192Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010 ), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n193I of 1894.  \r\n194 Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of Ind ia (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations. \r\n195Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by The Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n196Substituted for the word “Collector” by the Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (Pb. O. No. XLVI of 2001), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 2001, pp. 1811-1812, s. 2. \r\n197Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n198Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n199Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of  India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n200Substituted for the words “Local Government” ibid., Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n201Substituted for the words “Central Government” by the Forest Laws Amendment Ordinance, 1962 (X of 1962), published in \r\nthe Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated February 24, 1962, pp. 265g-265h, s. 2. \r\n202Substituted for the wo rds “Provinc ial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\nrates as it may declare by notification in the \r\n203\r\n[Official Gazette] on all timber or other \r\nforest-produce– \r\n(a) which is produced in \r\n204\r\n[\r\n205\r\n[Pakistan]], and in respect of wh ich \r\n206\r\n[the \r\n207\r\n[Government]] has any right; \r\n(b) which is brought from any place outside \r\n208\r\n[\r\n209\r\n[Pakistan]] \r\n210\r\n[or is  \r\ntransported from or to any place within Pakistan]: \r\n211\r\n[ * * * * * * * * *   ] \r\n (2) In every case in which such duty is directed to be levied ad valorem, \r\nthe \r\n212\r\n[\r\n213\r\n[\r\n214\r\n[Government]]] may fix by like notification the value on which such duty \r\nshall be assessed. \r\n215\r\n[(3) * * * * * * * * *   ] \r\n216\r\n[\r\n217\r\n[(4) * * * * * * * * *  ]] \r\n40. Limit not to apply to purchase -money or royalty .– Noting in this Chapter \r\nshall be deemed to  limit the amount, if any, chargeable as purchase -money or \r\nroyalty on any timber or other forest -produce, although the same is levied on such \r\ntimber or produce while in transit, in the same manner as duty is levied. \r\n                                                           \r\n203Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of I ndian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n204Substituted for the words “British India” by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances O rder, 1949, vide Notification No. \r\nG.G.O. 4, dated March 25, 1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949, pp.  223-283, \r\nArticles 3(2) and 4. \r\n205Substituted for the words “the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, \r\n1960 (XXI of 1960), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp.  725-845, s.  3 read with \r\nSecond Schedule.  \r\n206Substituted for the words “the Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, published \r\nin the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I.  \r\n207Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide N otification No. F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n208Substituted for the words “British India” by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949 , vide Notification No. \r\nG.G.O. 4, dated March 25, 1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949, pp.  223-283, \r\nArticles 3(2) and 4.  \r\n209Substituted for the words “the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” by the Centr al Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, \r\n1960 (XXI of 1960), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp.  725-845, s.  3 read with \r\nSecond Schedule.  \r\n210Added by the Forest Laws Amendment Ordinance, 1962 (X of 1962), published in th e Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), \r\ndated February 24, 1962, pp. 265g-265h, s. 2. \r\n211Omitted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, published in the Gazette of India \r\n(Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n212Substituted for the words “Local Government” ibid. \r\n213Substituted for the words “Central Government” by the Forest Laws Amendment Ordinance, 1962 (X of 1962), published in \r\nthe Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated February 24, 1962, pp. 265g-265h, s. 2. \r\n214Substituted for the words “Provincia l Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n215Omitted by the Forest Laws Amendmen t Ordinance, 1962 (X of 1962), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), \r\ndated February 24, 1962, pp. 265g-265h, s. 2. \r\n216Inserted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, published in the Gazette of India \r\n(Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n217Omitted by the Forest Laws Amendment Ordinance, 1962 (X of 1962), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), \r\ndated February 24, 1962, pp. 265g-265h, s. 2. \r\nCHAPTER VII \r\nOf the control of timber and other  \r\nforest-produce in transit \r\n41. Power to make rules to regulate, transit of forest -produce.– (1) The \r\ncontrol of all rivers and their banks as regards the floating of timber, as well as the \r\ncontrol of all timber and other forest -produce in transit by land or water, is vested in \r\nthe \r\n218\r\n[\r\n219\r\n[Government]], and it may make rules to regulate the transit of all timber and \r\nother forest-produce. \r\n(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing \r\npower, such rules may– \r\n(a) prescribe the routes by which alone timber or other forest -produce may \r\nbe imported, exported or moved into, from or within \r\n220\r\n[the Province]; \r\n(b) prohibit the import or export or moving of such timber or other produce \r\nwithout a pass from an officer duly authorised to issue th e same, or \r\notherwise than in accordance with the conditions of such pass; \r\n(c) provide for the issue, production and return of such passes and for the \r\npayment of fees therefor; \r\n(d) provide for the stoppage, reporting , examination and marking of timber \r\nor other forest-produce in transit, in respect of which there is reason to \r\nbelieve that any money is payable to  \r\n221\r\n[the \r\n222\r\n[Government]] on account \r\nof the price thereof, or on account of any duty, fee, royalty or charge \r\ndue thereon, or, to which it is desirable for  the purposes of this Act to \r\naffix a mark; \r\n(e) provide for the establishment  and regulation of depots to which such \r\ntimber or other produce shall be taken by those in charge  of it for \r\nexamination, or for the payment of such money, or in order that such \r\nmarks may be affixed to it; and the conditions under which such timber \r\nor other produce shall be brought to, stored at and removed from such \r\ndepots; \r\n(f) prohibit the closing up or obstructing of the channel or banks of any \r\nriver used for the transit of timber  or other forest -produce, and the \r\nthrowing of grass, brushwood, branches or leaves into any such river or \r\nany act which may cause such river to be closed or obstructed; \r\n(g) provide for the prevention or removal of any obstruction of the channel \r\nor banks of  any such river, and for recovering the cost of such \r\n                                                           \r\n218Substituted for the  words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations. \r\n219Substituted for the word s “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n220Substituted for the words “British India” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n221Substituted for the word “Government” ibid.  \r\n222Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) O rder, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\nprevention or removal from the person whose acts or negligence \r\nnecessitated the same; \r\n223[(ga)  protection and improvement of ecosystem and devise forest \r\nmanagement plan;] \r\n224\r\n[(h) prohibit absolutely or subject to conditions, within stipulated local limits, \r\nthe establishment of sawpit, sawmill, charcoal kiln, timber or fire wood \r\ndepot within five miles radius of the forest , converting, cutting, burning, \r\nconcealing or making of timber, altering or effacing of any mark on the \r\nsame or possession or carrying of marking hammer; and]  \r\n(i) regulate the use of property marks for timber, and the registration of \r\nsuch marks; prescribe the time for which such registration shall hold \r\ngood; limit the number of such marks th at may be registered by any \r\none person, and provide for the levy of fees for such registration. \r\n  (3) The \r\n225\r\n[\r\n226\r\n[Government]] may direct that any rule made under this section \r\nshall not apply to any specified class of timber or other forest -produce or to any \r\nspecified local area. \r\n227\r\n[41A. Powers of \r\n228\r\n[\r\n229\r\n[Government] as to movements of timber across Customs \r\nfrontiers.– Notwithstanding anything in section 41, the \r\n230\r\n[\r\n231\r\n[Government]] may make \r\nrules to prescribe the route by whi ch alone timber or other forest produce may be \r\nimported, exported or moved into or from \r\n232\r\n[\r\n233\r\n[Pakistan]] across any customs frontier \r\nas defined by the \r\n234\r\n[\r\n235\r\n[Government]], and any rules made under section 41 shall \r\nhave effect subject to the rules made under this section.] \r\n                                                           \r\n223Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in t he Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.8.  \r\n224Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 15. \r\n225Substituted fo r the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n226Substituted for th e words “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n227Inserted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, p ublished in the Gazette of India \r\n(Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n228Substituted for the word “Central” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. O. No. 1 of 1974), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-B, s. 2 read with the Schedule. \r\n229Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 2. \r\n230Substituted for the word “Central” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. O. No. 1 of 1974), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-B, s. 2 read with the Schedule. \r\n231Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 2. \r\n232Substituted for the words “British India” by the Adaptation of Central  Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949, vide Notification No. \r\nG.G.O. 4, dated March 25, 1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949, pp.  223-283, \r\nArticles 3(2) and 4. \r\n233Substituted for the words “the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, \r\n1960 (XXI of 1960), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp.  725-845, s.  3 read with \r\nSecond Schedule. \r\n234Substituted for the word “Central” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (Pb. O. No. 1 of 1974), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-B, s. 2 read with the Schedule. \r\n42. Penalty for breach of rules made under section 41 .– \r\n236\r\n[(1) If a person \r\ncontravenes any rule, the Government may prescribe that the person shall be liable \r\nto imprisonment which 237[which may extend to one year and fine which may extend \r\nto one million rupees but not less than one hundred thousand rupees]. \r\n (2) Such rules may provide that penalties which are double of those \r\nmentioned in sub -section (1) may be inflicted in cases where the offence is \r\ncommitted after sunset and before sunrise, or after preparation for resistance to \r\nlawful auth ority, or where the offender has been previously convicted of a like \r\noffence. \r\n43. Government and Forest-officers not liable for damage to forest -produce \r\nat depot.– The \r\n238\r\n[\r\n239\r\n[Government]] shall not be responsible for any loss or damage \r\nwhich may occur in resp ect of any timber or other forest -produce while at a depot \r\nestablished under a rule made under section 41, or while detained elsewhere, for the \r\npurposes of this Act; and no Forest -officer shall be responsible for any such loss or \r\ndamage, unless he causes s uch loss or damage negligently, maliciously or \r\nfraudulently. \r\n44. All persons bound to aid in case of accident at depot .– In case of any \r\naccident or emergency involving danger to any property at any such depot, every \r\nperson employed at such depot, whether b y the \r\n240\r\n[\r\n241\r\n[Government]] or by any private \r\nperson, shall render assistance to any Forest -officer or Police-officer demanding his \r\naid in averting such danger or securing such property from damage or loss. \r\nCHAPTER VIII \r\nOf the collection of drift and stranded timber \r\n45. Certain kinds of timber to be deemed property of Government until title \r\nthereto proved, and may be collected accordingly .– (1) All timber found adrift, \r\nbeached, stranded or sunk; \r\n all wood or timber bearing marks which have not been registered in  \r\naccordance with the rules made under section 41, or on which the marks have been \r\nobliterated, altered or defaced by fire or otherwise; and \r\n                                                                                                                                                                                     \r\n235Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 2. \r\n236Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 16. \r\n237Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.9. (in the Gazette it is mention in in sub-section 1). \r\n  \r\n238Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n239Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptat ion) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.3(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n240Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n241Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Noti fication No. F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n in such areas as the \r\n242\r\n[\r\n243\r\n[Government]] directs, all unmarked wood and \r\ntimber; shall be deemed to be the property of Government, unless and until any \r\nperson establishes his right and title thereto, as provided in this Chapter. \r\n (2) Such timber may be collected by any Forest -officer or other person \r\nentitled to collect the same by virtue of any rule made under section 51, and may be \r\nbrought to any depot which the Forest -officer may notify as a depot for the reception \r\nof drift timber.  \r\n (3) The \r\n244\r\n[\r\n245\r\n[Government]] may, by notification in the \r\n246\r\n[Official Gazette], \r\nexempt any class of timber from the provisions of this section. \r\n46. Notice to claimants of drift -timber.– Public notice shall from time to time be \r\ngiven by the Forest -officer of timber collected under section 45. Such notice shall \r\ncontain a description of the timber, and shall require any person claiming the same \r\nto present to such officer, within a period not less than two months from the date of \r\nsuch notice, a written statement of such claim. \r\n47. Procedure on claim preferred to such timber .– (1) When any such \r\nstatement is presented as aforesaid, the Forest -officer may, after making such \r\ninquiry as he thinks fit, either reject the claim after recording his reasons for so doing, \r\nor deliver the timber to the claimant. \r\n (2) If such timber is claimed by more than one person, the Forest -officer \r\nmay either deliver the same to any of such persons whom he deems entitled thereto, \r\nor may refer the claimants to the Civil Courts, or retain the timber pending the receipt \r\nof an order from any such Court for its disposal. \r\n (3) Any person whose claim has been rejected under this section m ay, \r\nwithin three months from the date of such rejection, institute a suit to recover \r\npossession of the timber claimed by him; but no person shall recover any \r\ncompensation or costs against the \r\n247\r\n[\r\n248\r\n[Government]], or against any Forest-officer, on \r\naccount of s uch rejection, or the detention or removal of any timber, or the delivery \r\nthereof to any other person under this section. \r\n                                                           \r\n242Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order , 1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n243Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), publishe d in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n244Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated  April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n245Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n246Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table o f General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n247Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n248Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n (4) No such timber shall be subject to process of any Civil, Criminal or \r\nRevenue Court until it has been delivered, or a suit has bee n brought, as provided in \r\nthis section. \r\n48. Disposal of unclaimed timber .– If no such statement is presented as \r\naforesaid, or if the claimant omits to prefer his claim in the manner and within the \r\nperiod fixed by the notice issued under section 46, or on s uch claim having been so \r\npreferred by him and having been rejected, omits to institute a suit to recover \r\npossession of such timber within the further period fixed by section 47, the \r\nownership of such timber s hall vest in the Government, or , when such timbe r has \r\nbeen delivered to another person under section 47, in such other person free from all \r\nencumbrances not created by him. \r\n49. \r\n249\r\n[\r\n250\r\n[Government]] and its officers not liable for damage to such timber .– \r\nThe \r\n251\r\n[\r\n252\r\n[Government]] shall not be responsible for any loss or damage which may \r\noccur in respect of any timber collected under section 45, and no Forest -officer shall \r\nbe responsible for any such loss or damage, unless he causes such loss or damage \r\nnegligently, maliciously or fraudulently. \r\n50. Payments to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him .– No \r\nperson shall be entitled to recover possession of any timber collected or delivered as \r\naforesaid until he has paid to the Forest -officer or other person entitled to receive it \r\nsuch sum on account thereof as may be due under any rule made under section 51. \r\n51. Power to make rules and prescribe penalties .– (1) The \r\n253\r\n[\r\n254\r\n[Government]] \r\nmay make rules to regulate the following matters, namely:– \r\n(a) the salving, collection and disposal of all timber mentioned in section \r\n45; \r\n255\r\n[(b)  the use and registration of boats and other vehicles used in salving and \r\ncollecting timber;]  \r\n(c) the amounts to be paid for salving, collecting, moving, storing or \r\ndisposing of such timber; and \r\n(d) the use and registration of hammers an d other instruments to be used \r\nfor marking such timber. \r\n                                                           \r\n249Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I.  \r\n250Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Centr al Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n251Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n252Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of  1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n253Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of I ndian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n254Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII o f 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s.3. \r\n255Substituted ibid., s. 17(a). \r\n256\r\n[(2) If a person contravenes any rule made under this section, the \r\nGovernment may prescribe that the person shall be liable to imprisonment which \r\nmay extend to 257[two years]  or fine which may extend t o one million rupees or to \r\nboth.] \r\n258[CHAPTER VIII-A \r\n51-A. The Forest Protection Centers .- (1) The Government shall, in prescribed \r\nmanner, establish or declare one or more places or premises, generally or specially, \r\nto be a Forest Protection Center for the p urposes of the Act to exercise such powers \r\nand perform such functions in such area as may be provided in the notification. \r\n(2) Each Forest Protection Center shall consist of:   \r\n(a)  Assistant Conservator of Forests or Forest Protection Officer; \r\n(b) Inspector Forests; \r\n(c) Forest Ranger; and \r\n(d) any other official.  \r\n (3) The supervision of a Forest Protection Center shall vest with an officer \r\nnot below the rank of Deputy Conservator of Forests as entrusted by the Secretary.  \r\n (4) Assistant Conservator of Fore sts or Forest Protection Officer as \r\nnotified by Director General (Forests) after approval of Secretary shall be incharge of \r\nthe Forest Protection Center and, in his absence, Inspector Forests may be notified \r\nin the same manner as incharge of Forest Protection Center. \r\n (5)       The officers and officials shall wear such uniform, carry such weapon \r\nand ammunition and keep such identification cards or tags and such badge in such \r\nmanner as may be prescribed. \r\n (6) Each Forest Protection Center shall be provided marked vehicles and \r\nmotorbikes as may be deemed necessary. \r\n (7) The Director General (Forests) may direct to establish such number of \r\nforest check posts in the area of a Forest Protection Center at any place as deemed \r\nappropriate to prevent the offence and to protect the forest under the Act. \r\n (8) If any person wears without authorization, the uniform, keep \r\nidentification cards, tag or badges having the appearance or bearing any of the \r\ndistinctive marks of officer or official uniform, he shall, be punished with \r\nimprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine up to one \r\nhundred thousand rupees, but not less than twenty thousand rupees or with both \r\nand such offence shall be deemed as non-bailable and cognizable. \r\n (9) The Government may mak e rules for providing the manners for the \r\nsupervision and administration of Forest Protection Center. \r\n                                                           \r\n256Ibid., s. 17(b). \r\n257Substituted for the words \"six months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.10. \r\n258Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.11. \r\n51-B. Powers and functions of incharge of Forest Protection Centers .– (1) An \r\nincharge of the Forest Protection Center shall perform such functions and exe rcise \r\nsuch powers and, in such manner, as may be prescribed. \r\n(2)      In addition to the powers and functions as may be prescribed under \r\nsub-section (1), the incharge shall: \r\n(a) enforce and execute decisions of the Government within its territorial \r\njurisdiction; \r\n(b) enforce the provisions of the Act; \r\n(c) conduct inspections and inquiries; \r\n(d)  register First Information Report and conduct investigations and submit \r\nmonthly report to the Director General (Forests) in prescribed manner; \r\n(e)  arrest the offende rs and submit reports to the Court or other forum or \r\nauthority with the approval of the concerned Deputy Conservator of \r\nForests; \r\n(f)  issue orders under the directions of the Government or the Secretary \r\nor the Director General (Forests) for the purposes of the Act;  \r\n(g)  use reasonable force in terms of fire control, in case of retaliation, \r\nresistance or obstruction in performing the functions under the Act;   \r\n(h)  enter, inspect, search and seize any moveable property, forest \r\nproduce together with all tool s, boats, vehicles or cattle used in \r\ncommitting any such offence prohibited under the Act;  \r\n(i)  enter, inspect, search and seal any immoveable property, building or \r\nplace, subject to approval of next higher authority where he has reason \r\nto believe that an  offence under the Act has been committed or \r\nsufficient evidence is available for the commission of an offence; \r\n(j)  stop, inspect, search, investigate, seize and confiscate any vehicle, \r\nboat, cart, cattle, equipment, machinery, cycle, motorcycle, loading or \r\ntransporting mode, goods, articles under the offence so committed; \r\nand \r\n(k)  exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may \r\nbe delegated by the Director General (Forests) or Secretary. \r\n51-C.  Record keeping at Forest Protection Center.- The Forest Protection Center \r\nshall be responsible to maintain the record, in such manner as may be prescribed. \r\n51-D. Director General (Forests) .- (1) The Director General (Forests) shall be \r\nappointed by the Chief Minister in such manner and on such terms and conditions as \r\nmay be prescribed. \r\n(2) The Director General (Forests), under the superintendence and control \r\nof the Secretary, shall be responsible for accomplishing the objectives of the Act and \r\nfor efficient implementation of the provisions of the Act. \r\n(3) The Director General (Forests) shall exercise all such powers as are \r\nprovided in the Act or as may be assigned to him by the Secretary or as may be \r\nprescribed. \r\n(4) The Director General (Forests) shall be responsible for the following \r\nand may exercise all powers conferred upon any officer under the Act: \r\n(a) supervision of the officers and officials; and \r\n(b) supervision and administration of offices and Forest Protection Centers. \r\n51-E.  Appointment of officers and officials .- There shall be officers an d officials \r\nto be appointed in the Department on such terms and conditions and in such \r\nmanners as may be prescribed.  \r\n51-F.  Powers and functions of officers .- (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, \r\nan officer within his assigned jurisdiction, in a cogn izable offence, without orders \r\nfrom Court, may arrest any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists or \r\ncredible information is available of his having been involved in an offence and for \r\nthis purpose shall exercise all powers of a police officer provided in the Code. \r\n(2) Any officer may perform such other functions as may be assigned by \r\nthe Secretary or Director General (Forests). \r\n51-G. Investigation officer.- (1) The Secretary himself or on the recommendations \r\nof Director General (Forests) shall, b y notification, appoint as many Investigation \r\nOfficers or team of Investigation Officers from the officers or officials not below BS -11 \r\nfor each Forest Protection Center as he may deem appropriate. \r\n (2) The Investigation Officer shall have the following po wers and functions \r\nto: \r\n(a)  enter, inspect, search and seize any moveable property where he has \r\nreason to believe that an offence under the Act has occurred or is \r\napprehension of so happening; \r\n(b)  enter, inspect, search and seal any immoveable property, b uilding or \r\nplace, subject to permission of his one step higher officer where he has \r\nreason to believe that an offence under the Act has occurred or its \r\napprehension of so happening; \r\n(c)  stop, inspect, search, investigate, seize and confiscate any moveable  \r\nproperty, vehicle, boat, cart, cattle, equipment, machinery, cycle, \r\nmotorcycle, loading or transporting mode, goods, articles for the \r\npurposes of the Act; \r\n(d)  issue notices or summons to the offender or concerned persons under \r\nthe Act; \r\n(e)  seize any ite m, goods, article or moveable property that is used in or \r\nrelevant to prove the commission of offence, provided that every such \r\nitem shall be listed in the register of seized items in the prescribed \r\nmanner; \r\n(f)  use reasonable force, in case of retaliation, resistance or obstruction in \r\nperforming the functions under the Act; \r\n(g)  collect evidence through electronic means to inquire or investigate, \r\nsuch as CCTV camera recording; video recording; audio recording; \r\nphotographs; electronic data; caller data reco rds; mobile device \r\ntracking, digital forensics, email and social media; \r\n(h)  get the First Information Report registered at the Forest Protection \r\nCenter; and \r\n(i)  have also all such powers as provided in the Code for the purposes of \r\ninvestigation save as provided in the Act. \r\n(3) No proceeding of an officer or official in any such case shall at any \r\nstage be called in question on the ground that the case was one which such officer \r\nor official was not empowered under the Act to investigate, and such other powe rs \r\nand functions as may be prescribed. \r\n51-H.  Transfer of investigation. – (1) Any offender may, prior to submission of \r\nreport to the Court, file an application to transfer the investigation of a forest offence \r\nregistered against him in the office of the co ncerned Deputy Conservator of Forests \r\nfrom one Investigation Officer to another, providing the reasons and justification for \r\nsuch request in a manner as may be prescribed. \r\n(2) Within seven working days of the filing of an application by the \r\noffender, the c oncerned Deputy Conservator of Forests may, after intimation to the \r\nDirector General (Forests) and for reasons to be recorded in writing: \r\n(a) reject the application if it lacks a valid reason or is without merit; or \r\n(b) accept the application and transfer the investigation of a case from the \r\nInvestigation Officer to any other Investigation Officer of a rank equal \r\nto or higher than the rank of the previous Investigation Officer. \r\n(3) An appeal, within seven days of passing of an order under sub -section \r\n(2), may be filed before the office of Director General (Forests) who may: \r\n(a) accept the appeal and transfer the investigation to any other \r\ninvestigation officer or a team of investigation officers of a rank equal \r\nto or higher than the rank of the previous investigation officer; or \r\n(b)  reject the appeal. \r\n51-I. Procedure to be followed after arrest .- (1) The arrest of a person shall be \r\nbrought into the knowledge of the incharge of Forest Protection Center and such \r\narrested person shall, without unnecessary delay but not later than twenty four hours \r\nfrom his arrest, be produced before the Court or in absence of Special Court before \r\nthe area Magistrate through the Prosecutor who shall request for physical or judicial \r\nremand, as the case may be. \r\n(2) The incharge of a Forest Protection Center shall submit a report about \r\nthe registration of case to the Deputy Conservator of Forests concerned in such \r\nmanner as may be prescribed. \r\n51-J. Cognizance and trial of offences. - (1) A Special Court, duly notified by the \r\nGovernment and until so notified, the Magistrate having powers under section 30 of \r\nthe Code, shall take cognizance and try offence in the manner as provided in the \r\nCode and award the punishment under the Act. \r\n(2)      An officer or official under the Act shall be a competent witness for the \r\npurposes of the Act before the Court.  \r\n51-K. Appeal.- (1) Any person or the officer, aggrieved by an order of acquittal or \r\nsentence passed by the Court under the Act, may file an appeal, within thirty days of \r\ncommunication of such order, as provided in Chapter XXXI of the Code.  \r\n51-L. Prosecutor.– (1) The prosecution of the cases under the Act shall be \r\nconducted by the Prosecutors of the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service appointed \r\nunder the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) \r\nAct 2006 (III of 2006) or Prosecutors as may be appointed under the Act, in such \r\nmanners and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. \r\n(2) The Prosecutors appointed under the Act shall conduct prosecution \r\nin such manner as may be prescribed. \r\n51-M. Incentive and compensation .- (1) The Secretary or the Director General \r\n(Forests) or any other officer as notified by the Secretary, in addition to the \r\nconferment of a certificate or medallion may make a payment of incen tive or reward \r\nto any officer or official who has made an exceptional effort towards accomplishing \r\nthe objective of the Act, in such manner as may be prescribed. \r\n(2)     Where any officer or official suffers any bodily injury while performing \r\nhis official duty for the purposes of the Act, the compensation to him may be granted \r\nby the Director General (Forests) as may be prescribed. \r\n51-N. Punishment for an officer or official .- (1) In case an officer or official has \r\nbeen found, directly or indirectly, invol ved in violation of any provision of the Act, he \r\nshall be liable to be punished with maximum punishment and double of the \r\nmaximum fine provided for the offence in the Act. \r\n(2)      The First Information Report under sub -section (1), shall be registered \r\nagainst an officer or official in the following manners: \r\n(a) if offender is in the rank of BS-14 or below, on the recommendations of \r\nconcerned Assistant Conservator of Forests or Forest Protection \r\nOfficer as the case may be and after approval of the Deputy \r\nConservator of Forests; \r\n(b) if offender is in the rank of BS -15 to BS-16 on the recommendations of \r\nDeputy Conservator of Forests and after approval of the Director \r\nGeneral (Forests); and \r\n(c) if offender is in BS-17 or above, on the recommendation of the Director \r\nGeneral (Forests) and after approval of the Secretary. \r\n(3) The Secretary on his own or on a report, may, after holding a \r\npreliminary inquiry and after having been satisfied, order for registration of First \r\nInformation Report against any officer or official or an y other person who has been \r\nfound, directly or indirectly, involved in violation of any provision of the Act. \r\n51.O. Whistle -blower disclosure .- (1) Any person making a whistle -blower \r\ndisclosure shall make a personal declaration that the information disclos ed and \r\nallegations contained therein are true to the best of his knowledge and belief, and \r\nare not disclosed for any personal reason. \r\n(2) Every whistle-blower disclosure shall be made in writing or electronic \r\nform in such manner and accompanied by such doc uments or other material as may \r\nbe prescribed.  \r\n(3) Upon receipt of whistle -blower disclosure, the Investigating Officer or \r\nany other authorized officer shall make an assessment of the  information contained \r\nin the disclosure and verify the same under intim ation to the next higher authority in \r\nsuch manner as may be prescribed.  \r\n(4)       Upon assessment and verification under sub -section (3), if the \r\nInvestigating Officer or officer is of the view that the whistle -blower disclosure \r\nwarrants further probe, in quiry or investigation, he shall complete such probe \r\nimmediately but not later than twenty -four hours and take necessary action, if so \r\nrequired.  \r\n51.P. Reward and punishment.- (1) If any violation or offence is determined by the \r\nInvestigating Officer or an y officer on whistle -blower’s disclosure and offender is \r\npunished in consequence of such disclosure, such whistle -blower may be rewarded \r\nin addition to a certificate of appreciation, as may be prescribed: \r\n Provided that in case of disclosures by more than one whistle-blower for the \r\nsame violation or offence, reward shall equally be distributed amongst such whistle -\r\nblowers based on their respective contribution, as determined by the Director \r\nGeneral (Forests).  \r\n(2) In case a whistle -blower discloses such inf ormation which is false, \r\nfrivolous or vexatious and on such disclosure, Investigating Officer or Director \r\nGeneral (Forests) or authorized officer, after making probe on it and by providing an \r\nopportunity of hearing, the said whistle blower shall be liable to fine which may \r\nextend up to one hundred thousand rupees. \r\n51.Q. Protection of whistle -blower.- (1) The identity of a whistle -blower, other \r\nthan provided in sub -section (2) of section 51 -O, shall not be disclosed even after \r\nconclusion of proceedings excep t with written consent of such whistle -blower and in \r\ncase an unauthorized disclosure of identity of such whistle -blower has been made \r\nby an officer or official, it shall deemed to be a misconduct under the Punjab \r\nEmployees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006 (XII of 2006).  \r\n (2) The Director General (Forests) may, in consultation with whistle -\r\nblower, take necessary measure for his protection for such duration and in such \r\nmanner as may be prescribed.] \r\nCHAPTER IX \r\nPenalties and Procedure \r\n259[52. Sealing and seizure of the property liable to confiscate .- (1) An officer or \r\nofficial not below the rank of BS -11 may seize any timber, forest produce, \r\nimplements, tools, equipment, carts, carriages, wagons, pick -up, lorry, truck, boat or \r\nlaunch, van, moto r car, bus, or any other mechanically propelled vehicles, saw \r\nmachine, sawing unit, chain saw, power saw, pack animals, arms and ammunition or \r\nany moveable property or any other kind of conveyances used in the commission, \r\nabetment or furtherance of the offence under the Act, or rules made thereunder. \r\n (2) Any officer not below the rank of an Assistant Conservator of Forests \r\nmay search and seal any immoveable property, shop, store, godown, house, place \r\nor building or house or place or saw mill or charcoal ki ln or firewood depot or such \r\ntype of construction where any forest produce is illegally stored, concealed or kept or \r\nmay be stored, concealed or kept without any authority or permission and may arrest \r\nthe owner, staff, dwellers of that store, house, building or shop: \r\n                                                           \r\n259Inserted by the Fores t (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.12.  \r\n Provided that in case of search of a residential building, prior approval from \r\nthe concerned area 260[Court] shall be obtained. \r\n (3) Any person aggrieved by the order passed under sub -sections (1) and \r\n(2), may file a representation before the co ncerned Chief Conservator of Forests \r\nwithin seven days who after affording an opportunity of personal hearing or through \r\nvideo link, may by an order in writing; \r\n(a) accept the representation and pass an order for de-sealing or releasing \r\nthe sealed or seize d property, subject to deposit of a security bond of \r\nspecified value or without security bond; or \r\n(b) reject the representation if found without merit or invalid. \r\n (4) Any person or officer aggrieved by an order under sub -section (3), \r\nwithin seven days of the order, may file an appeal before the Director General \r\n(Forests) who, after hearing the parties in person or through video link, may;  \r\n(a) accept the appeal and set -aside the impugned order with such \r\ndirections as may be deemed appropriate; or; \r\n(b) reject the appeal. \r\n (5) In case, aggrieved person chooses to appear for personal hearing \r\nthrough video link, the video link shall be organized by the concerned Assistant \r\nConservator of Forests in his office where the aggrieved person shall appear to join \r\nthe video link.  \r\n (6) On his own motion or on an application, the Director General (Forests) \r\nor Secretary, as the case may be, may, within ninety days of the passing of an order, \r\ncall for and examine the record of such order passed by an officer subordinate to \r\nhim, for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the correctness, legality or propriety \r\nof such order and may pass directions for correctness, legality or propriety of such \r\norder. \r\n (7) Every officer or official who seizes any timber, forest produce or any \r\nmoveable property under this section shall place on such moveable property a mark \r\nindicating that the same has been so seized; or any officer who seals any \r\nimmoveable property, shop, store, godown, house, place or building or house or \r\nplace or saw mill or charcoal kiln or firewood depot shall, as soon as may be, but not \r\nlater than twenty-four hours, make a report of such seal or seizure and shall forward \r\nto the concerned Conservator of Forest or the Court as the case may be: \r\n Provided that when the timber o r forest produce with respect to which such \r\noffence is believed to have been committed is the property of Government, or the \r\noffender is not known, it shall be sufficient if the officer or official makes, as soon as \r\nmay be but not later than twenty -four ho urs, a report of the circumstances for the \r\nDeputy Conservator of Forests who shall confiscate it in favour of Government. \r\n (8) The timber, forest produce or any moveable property seized under \r\nthis section may be placed in the custody of the Forest Protecti on Center or \r\npossession of a custodian with the permission of concerned officer and shall not be \r\nremoved, transferred, damaged, altered, or disposed of in any manner except with \r\n                                                           \r\n260Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.18. \r\nthe prior permission of the Deputy Conservator of Forests or the Court as the case \r\nmay be.  \r\n(9) When the offender is not known or cannot be found, the Deputy Chief \r\nConservator of Forests or the Court, as the case may be, shall, if satisfied that an \r\noffence has been committed, may ord er that the case property seized under this \r\nsection shall be confiscated in favour of Government:  \r\n Provided that no such order shall be made until the expiration of one month \r\nfrom the date of seizing such moveable property, or without hearing the  person, if \r\nany, claiming any right thereto, and the eviden ce, if any, which he may produce in \r\nsupport of his claim.]  \r\n261[53. Power to de-seal or de-seize property seized or sealed under section 52 \r\nand procedure thereupon .- (1) Save as provided in section 52, no officer shall \r\nrelease a timber, forest produce, vehic le, cattle, boat, tool or any other article or \r\nmoveable propriety seized under the Act. \r\n(2) Upon the receipt of any report under the Act, the Court shall, with all \r\nconvenient dispatch, take such measures as may be necessary for the arrest and \r\ntrial of the offender and the disposal of the seized property according to law. \r\n(3) Any person who forcibly, without proper authorization, de -seals, de -\r\nseizes, or interferes with any sealed immoveable property, or seized moveable \r\nproperty which has been legally sealed or seized under section 52,  shall be \r\npunished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years but not less \r\nthan five years and with fine which shall not be less than one hundred thousand \r\nrupees and not more than one million rupees and such off ence shall be cognizable \r\nand non-bailable.] \r\n262[* * * * * * * * * * * * *] \r\n55. Forest-produce, tools, etc., when liable to confiscation .– (1) All timber or \r\nforest-produce which is not the property of Government and in respect of which a \r\nforest-offence has be en committed, and all tools, boats, \r\n263\r\n[vehicles] and cattle used \r\nin committing any forest-offence, shall be liable to confiscation. \r\n  (2) Such confiscation may be in addition to any other punishment \r\nprescribed for such offence. \r\n56. Disposal on conclusion of  trial for forest -offence, of produce in respect \r\nof which it was committed .– When the trial of any forest -offence is concluded, any \r\nforest-produce in respect of which such offence has been committed shall, if it is the \r\nproperty of Government or has been co nfiscated, be taken charge of by a Forest -\r\nofficer, and, in any other case, may be disposed of in such manner as the Court may \r\ndirect. \r\n                                                           \r\n261Substituted for the word \"magistrate\"  by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.18. \r\n262Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) A ct 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated:  \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.26. \r\n263Substituted for the word “carts” by the Indian Forest (West Pakistan Amendment) Act,  1948 (IV of 1948), published in the \r\nWest Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated February 21, 1948, p. 93, s. 2.  \r\n57. Procedure when offender not known, or cannot be found .– When the \r\noffender is not known or cannot be found the 264[Court] may, if he finds that an \r\noffence has been committed, order the property in respect of which the offence has \r\nbeen committed to be confiscated and taken charge of by the Forest -officer, or to be \r\nmade over to the person whom the 265[Court] deems to be entitled to the same: \r\n  Provided that no such order shall be made until the expiration of one month \r\nfrom the date of seizing such property, or without hearing the person, if any, claiming \r\nany right thereto, and the evidence, if any, which he may produce in support  of his \r\nclaim. \r\n58. Procedure as to perishable property seized under section 52 .– The \r\n266[area 267[Court] or Court]  may, notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained, \r\ndirect the sale of any property seized under section 52 and subject to speedy and \r\nnatural d ecay, and may deal with the proceeds as he would have dealt with such \r\nproperty if it had not been sold. \r\n59. Appeal from orders under section 55, section 56, or section 57 .– The \r\nofficer who made the seizure under section 52, or any of his official superiors , or any \r\nperson claiming to be interested in the property so seized, may , within one month \r\nfrom the date of any order passed under section 55, section 56 or section 57, appeal \r\ntherefrom to the Court to which orders made by such 268[Court] are ordinarily \r\nappealable, and the order passed on such appeal shall be final. \r\n60. Property when to vest in Government .– When an order for the confiscation \r\nof any property has been passed under section 55 or section 57, as the case may \r\nbe, and the period limited by section 5 9 for an appeal from such order has elapsed, \r\nand no such appeal has been preferred, or when, on such an appeal being \r\npreferred, the Appellate Court confirms such order in respect of the whole or a \r\nportion of such property, such property or such portion the reof, as the case may be, \r\nshall vest in the Government free from all encumbrances. \r\n269\r\n[61. Power to release a seized property.– Notwithstanding anything contained in \r\nthis Chapter, an officer, authorized in this behalf by the Government, may direct \r\nimmediate release of any property, which is wrongfully seized under this Act, not \r\nbeing the property of the Government.] \r\n                                                           \r\n264Substituted for the word \"magistrate\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.18. \r\n265Substituted for the word \"magistrate\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.18. \r\n266Substituted for the word \"magistrate\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.14. \r\n267Substituted for the word \"magistrate\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.18. \r\n268Substituted for the word \"magistrate\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.18. \r\n269Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2 010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nOctober 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 19. \r\n62. Punishment for wrongful seizure .– Any Forest -officer or 270[**] who \r\nvexatiously and unnecessarily seizes any property on pretence of seizing pr operty \r\nliable to confiscation under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term \r\nwhich may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred \r\nrupees, or with both. \r\n271\r\n[63. Penalty for counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees an d timber and for \r\naltering boundary marks.– (1) If a person, with intent to cause damage or injury to \r\nthe public or to any other person, or to cause wrongful gain–  \r\n(a)  knowingly counterfeits upon any timber or standing tree a mark used \r\nby a forest officer  to indicate that the timber or tree is the property of \r\nthe Government or of some person, or that it may lawfully be cut or \r\nremoved by some person; or  \r\n(b) alters, defaces or obliterates any such mark placed on a tree or timber \r\nby or under the authority of a forest officer; or  \r\n(c) alters, moves, destroys or defaces any boundary -mark of a forest or \r\nwasteland to which the provisions of this Act are applied;  \r\nthe person shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to two \r\nyears or fine which may extend to one million rupees or to both. \r\n (2) If the offence under this section is committed after sunset and before \r\nsunrise or the accused is a previous convict for a forest offence, the accused person \r\nshall be liable to double of the penalty prescribed under sub-section (1).] \r\n   272[ * * * * * * * * * * * *] \r\n  273[ * * * * * * * * * * * *\r\n *]      \r\n274[65. Release of accused when evidence deficient .- (1) If, upon an investigation \r\nunder the Act, it appears to the officer incharge of the Forest Protection Center, or to \r\nthe officer making the investigation that there is no sufficient evidence or reasonable \r\nground or suspicion to justify forwarding of the accused to a Court, such officer may, \r\nif such person is in custody, release him on his executing a bond, with or without \r\nsureties, as such officer may direct, to appear, if and when so required, before the \r\nCourt empowered to take cognizance of the offence on a report and to try the \r\naccused. \r\n(2) Where Investigating Officer finds no sufficient grounds to proceed with \r\nan investigation, he shall not continue the investigation and in such cases, the officer \r\nin charge of the Forest Protection Center shall record in his report a detailed \r\n                                                           \r\n270Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.15. \r\n271Ibid., s. 20. \r\n272Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated:  \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.26.  \r\n273Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in th e Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.26.  \r\n274Substituted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3298, s.16.  \r\nstatement of the reasons for closing the investigation and shall immediately intimate \r\nthe Director General (Forests) of such decision and the circumstances thereof, in \r\nsuch manner as may be prescribed. \r\n(3) The Secretary shall have the authority to withdraw any ca se from the \r\nCourt at any stage.] \r\n66. Power to prevent commission of offence.– Every Forest-officer and Police-\r\nofficer shall prevent, and may interfere for the purpose of preventing, the commission \r\nof any forest-offence. \r\n275[ * * * * * * * * * * * *]     \r\n68. Power to compound offences .– \r\n276\r\n[(1) The Government may, by notification, \r\nconfer power on a forest officer–  \r\n(a) to accept from a person against whom a reasonable suspicious exists \r\nthat he has committed any forest offence, other than an offence \r\nspecified in 277[section 51-Q, section 53 and section 79-A], section 62 or \r\nsection 63, a sum of money which is not less than the value of loss to \r\nthe property of the Government, as compensation for the offence; and  \r\n(b) when any property has been seized, not being the property of the \r\nGovernment, to release the property on payment or without payment o f \r\ncompensation, as may be prescribed.] \r\n278[(c) if any person commits the same offence again, the compensation \r\npayable by the offender shall be double equated to the amount \r\npreviously recovered from him;  \r\n(d) if the same person commits the same offence for th e third time, no \r\ncompensation shall be received from him and a case shall be \r\nregistered against him under the Act and such offence shall be treated \r\nas cognizable and non-bailable; and \r\n(e) such offences provided in sub -clause (d)  shall be punished with \r\nimprisonment which may extend to five years but not less than three \r\nyears and with fine which shall not be less than one hundred thousand \r\nrupees and not more than one million rupees, along with confiscation \r\nof the weapon, article, forest produce, vehicles, equ ipment, machinery, \r\ncart, boat, cattle or any other article or animal used in commission of \r\noffence in addition to the damage provided under sub -section (3) of \r\nsection 26 and in case of non -payment of fine, shall undergo six \r\nmonths imprisonment.] \r\n (2) On the payment of such sum of money, or such value, or both, as the \r\ncase may be, to such officer, the suspected person, if in custody, shall be \r\n                                                           \r\n275Omitted by the  Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.26.  \r\n276Ibid., s. 25(a). \r\n277Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extrao rdinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.17(a).   \r\n278Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.17(b).    \r\ndischarged, the property, if any, seized shall be released, and no further proceedings \r\nshall be taken against such person or property. \r\n279\r\n[ * * * * * * * * *   ] \r\n280\r\n[68-A. Reward in forest cases .– The Government may, by notification and in the \r\nprescribed manner, allow a forest officer to reward a subordinate forest officer from \r\nthe compensation recovered by the forest office r under section 68 which amount \r\nshall not be more than three fourth of the amount of compensation recovered from \r\nthe person.] \r\n69. Presumption that forest -produce belongs to Government .– When in any \r\nproceedings taken under this Act, or in consequence of any thing done under this \r\nAct, a question arises as to whether any forest -produce is the property of the \r\nGovernment, such produce shall be presumed to be the property of the Government \r\nuntil the contrary is proved. \r\nCHAPTER X \r\nCattle-trespass \r\n70. Cattle-trespass Act, 1871, to apply.– Cattle trespassing in a reserved forest \r\nor in any portion of a protected forest which has been lawfully closed to grazing shall \r\nbe deemed to be cattle doing damage to a public plantation within the meaning of \r\nsection 11 of the Cattle -trespass Act, 1871\r\n281\r\n, and may be seized and impounded as \r\nsuch by any Forest-officer or 282[***]. \r\n283\r\n[71. Powers to alter fines .– The Government may, by notification, direct that in \r\nlieu of the fines fixed under section 12 of the Cattle -Trespass Act 1871 (I of 1871), \r\nthe owner or occupant of the cattle, impounded under section 70, shall pay the fines, \r\nas the Government deems appropriate but such fines shall not exceed the following \r\namounts:- \r\nfor each buffalo or camel one thousand rupees \r\nfor each horse, mare, \r\ngelding, pony, colt, filly, \r\nmule, bull, bullock, cow or \r\nheifer \r\n \r\nfive hundred rupees  \r\nfor each calf, ass, ram, ewe, \r\nsheep, lamb or goat  \r\ntwo hundred rupees.] \r\nCHAPTER XI \r\n                                                           \r\n279Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October \r\n21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 25(b). \r\n280Inserted ibid., s. 26. \r\n281I of 1871.  \r\n282Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Ext raordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.19.     \r\n283Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October \r\n21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 27. \r\nOf forest-officers \r\n72. \r\n284\r\n[\r\n285\r\n[Government]] may invest Forest -officers with certain powers .– (1) \r\nThe \r\n286\r\n[\r\n287\r\n[Government]] may invest any Forest -officer with all or any of the following \r\npowers, that is to say:– \r\n(a) power to enter upon any land and to survey, demarcate and make a \r\nmap of the same; \r\n(b) the powers of a Civil Court to compel the attendance  of witnesses and \r\nthe production of documents and material objects; \r\n(c) power to issue a search-warrant under the Code of Criminal Procedure, \r\n1898\r\n288\r\n; and \r\n(d) power to hold an inquiry into forest -offences, and, in the course of such \r\ninquiry, to receive and record evidence. \r\n  (2) Any evidence recorded under clause (d) of sub -section (1) shall be \r\nadmissible in any subsequent trial before a Magistrate, provided that it has been \r\ntaken in the presence of the accused person. \r\n289[(3)  The Chief Conservator of Forests,  Conservator of Forests, Deputy \r\nConservator of Forests, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Forest Protection Officer, \r\nor any other officer designated by the Secretary, shall be the forest officers under \r\nthe Act.] \r\n290[73. Public servants.-  All officers and of ficials in the performance of duties under \r\nthe Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the provisions of \r\nthe Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860).] \r\n291[74. Indemnity.-  No suit or prosecution shall lie against an officer or official for any \r\nact done in good faith or ordered to be done in pursuance of any provision of the \r\nAct.] \r\n75. Forest-officers not to trade .– Except with the permission in writing of the \r\n292\r\n[\r\n293\r\n[Government]], no Forest -officer shall, as principal or agent, trade  in ti mber or \r\n                                                           \r\n284Substituted for the words “Local Gov ernment” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n285Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Go vernment” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n286Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n287Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), pub lished in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n288V of 1898.  \r\n289Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.20.     \r\n290Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.21.      \r\n291Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazett e (Extraordinary), dated:   \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.22.      \r\n292Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937 , pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations. \r\nother forest-produce, or be or become interested in any lease of any forest or in any \r\ncontract for working any forest, whether in or outside \r\n294\r\n[\r\n295\r\n[Pakistan]]. \r\nCHAPTER XII \r\nSubsidiary rules \r\n76. Additional powers to make rules.– The \r\n296\r\n[\r\n297\r\n[Government]] may make rules– \r\n(a) to prescribe and limit the powers and duties of any Forest -officer under \r\nthis Act; \r\n(b) to regulate the rewards to be paid to officers and informers out of the \r\nproceeds of fines and confiscation under this Act; \r\n(c) for the preservation, rep roduction and disposal of trees and timber \r\nbelonging to Government, but grown on lands belonging to or in the \r\noccupation of private persons; and \r\n(d) generally, to carry out the provisions of this Act. \r\n298\r\n[77. Penalty for breach of rules .– If a person contrav enes any rule made under \r\nthis Act and for which no penalty is provided under the Act, the person shall be liable \r\nto imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend \r\nto ten thousand rupees or to both.] \r\n78. Rules when to have f orce of law.– All rules made by the \r\n299\r\n[\r\n300\r\n[Government]] \r\nunder this Act shall be published in the \r\n301\r\n[Official Gazette], and shall thereupon, so \r\nfar as they are consistent with this Act, have effect as if enacted therein. \r\n302[CHAPTER XII-A \r\nForest Company \r\n                                                                                                                                                                                     \r\n293Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n294Substituted for the words “British India” by the Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances Order, 1949, vide Notification No.  \r\nG.G.O. 4, dated March25, 1949, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated March 28, 1949, pp.  223-283, \r\nArticles 3(2) and 4.  \r\n295Substituted for the words “the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, \r\n1960 (XXI of 1960), published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated June 9, 1960, pp.  725-845, s.  3 read with \r\nSecond Schedule.  \r\n296Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n297Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n298Substituted ibid., s. 28. \r\n299Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n300Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n301Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of  India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n302Inserted by the Punjab Forest (Amendment) Act 2016 (XIV of 2016), pub lished in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated \r\nFebruary 29, 2016, pp. 4045-4047, s. 3.  \r\n78-A. Forest company .– (1) The Government may establish a forest company \r\nunder the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984) to oversee the \r\nimplementation of public private partnership on assigned forest land or wasteland.  \r\n (2) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, assign a \r\nblank forest land or wasteland owned by the Government to a forest company.  \r\n (3) The Government shall not notify a forest land or wasteland under \r\nsubsection (2) unless the nature and extent of the rights of the Government  and of \r\nprivate persons in or over the forest land or wasteland have been inquired into and \r\nrecorded at a survey or settlement or in such other manner as the Government \r\ndeems appropriate.  \r\n (4) Subject to the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984), the \r\nGovernment may constitute the Board of Directors of a forest company with equal \r\nrepresentation from public and private sectors to manage functioning of the forest \r\ncompany. \r\n (5) The forest company shall, in addition to its Articles of Association and \r\nMemorandum of Association, comply with the provisions of this Act and the rules.  \r\n78-B. Procedure for partnership.– (1) The forest company shall invite applications \r\nof eligible persons through a public notice, published in at least two national daily \r\nnewspapers, for public private partnership for the development of forest on the forest \r\nland or wasteland.  \r\n (2) The eligibility criteria for an applicant shall include:  \r\n(a) availability of required technical and other human resource to \r\nundertake the project; \r\n(b)  financial capacity; and  \r\n(c)  relevant experience.  \r\n (3) The forest company shall execute the afforestation plan in accordance \r\nwith the Agreement signed with the successful applicant that shall not exceed fifteen \r\nyears but it may contain provision for extens ion of the Agreement for one more term \r\nof fifteen years subject to satisfactory performance by the applicant. \r\n (4) The forest company and the person occupying a forest land or \r\nwasteland under public private partnership shall protect:  \r\n(a) the forest land o r wasteland from any type of encroachment or use \r\nother than the permitted or permissible use under the Agreement, this \r\nAct or the rules; and  \r\n(b) the forest produce from illegal removal, illegal cultivation or other \r\nincidents such as forest fire, insect attack and diseases.  \r\n (5) The forest company shall deposit the profit with the Government.  \r\n (6) The forest company shall maintain record of forest produce and shall \r\nannually submit the record of the forest produce to the Government.  \r\n (7) The Government ma y notify a monitoring committee to monitor and \r\nevaluate the afforestation plan of the forest company.  \r\n (8) The forest company and the occupant shall rectify any violations to the \r\nafforestation plan specified by the monitoring committee within sixty days.  \r\n (9) The Government may conduct third party validation to evaluate \r\nperformance of the forest company or any public private partnership project under \r\nthe Act.] \r\nCHAPTER XIII \r\nMiscellaneous \r\n79. Persons bound to assist Forest -officers and Police -officers.– (1) Every \r\nperson who exercises any right in a \r\n303\r\n[reserved, protected or unclassed forests], or \r\nwho is permitted to take any forest -produce from, or to cut and remove timber or to \r\npasture cattle in such forest, and every person who is employed by any such perso n \r\nin such forest, and  every person in any village contiguous to such forest who is \r\nemployed by the \r\n304\r\n[\r\n305\r\n[Government]], or who receives emoluments from the \r\n306\r\n[\r\n307\r\n[Government]] for services to be performed to the community,  shall be bound to \r\nfurnish without unne cessary delay to the nearest Forest -officer or 308[**] any \r\ninformation he may possess respecting the commission of, or intention to commit, \r\nany forest -offence, and shall forthwith take steps, whether , so required by any \r\nForest-officer or Police-officer or not,– \r\n(a) to extinguish any forest fire in such forest of which he has knowledge \r\nor information; \r\n(b) to prevent by any lawful means in his power any fire in the vicinity of \r\nsuch forest of which he has knowledge or information from spreading \r\nto such forest,  \r\nand shall assist any Forest-officer or Police-officer demanding his aid– \r\n(c) in preventing the commission in such forest of any forest-offence; and \r\n(d) when there is reason to believe that any such offence has been \r\ncommitted in such forest, in discovering and arresting the offender. \r\n(2) Any person who, being bound so to do, without lawful excuse (the burden of \r\nproving which shall lie upon such person) fails– \r\n(a) to furnish without unnecessary delay to the nearest Forest -officer or \r\nPolice-officer any information required by sub-section (1); \r\n                                                           \r\n303Substituted for the words “reserved or protected forest” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 29(a).  \r\n304Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n305Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n306Substituted for the word “Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order, 1937, published in the \r\nGazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n307Substituted for the word “Crown” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  F.13(1)59-\r\nD&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(2) read with Table.  \r\n308Omitted for the word \"Police -officer\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.23. \r\n(b) to take steps as required by sub-section (1) to extinguish any forest fire \r\nin a reserved or protected forest; \r\n(c) to prevent, as required by sub-section (1), any fire in the vicinity of such \r\nforest from spreading to such forest; or \r\n(d) to assist any Forest -officer or Police -officer demanding his aid in \r\npreventing the commission in such f orest of any forest -offence, or  \r\nwhen there is reason to believe that any such offence ha s been \r\ncommitted in such forest in discovering and arresting the offender; shall \r\nbe punishable with imprisonment for a term \r\n309\r\n[which may extend to \r\n310[one year] or with fine which may extend to 311[one hundred] thousand \r\nrupees or with both]. \r\n312[79-A. Organized forest offence and punishment .- (1) Any of the f ollowing \r\nacts, by any person or organized group or network, shall count as organized forest \r\noffence and shall be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable: \r\n(a) illegal cutting, felling, logging, trade, trafficking or smuggling of forest \r\nproduce; \r\n(b) encroachment or grabbing of forest land or attempt or planning for \r\nencroachment or grabbing of the forest land; \r\n(c) illegal change of the forest land or intentional setting of fire or igniting \r\nflames within the forest;  \r\n(d) use of force or unlawful force or attack or attemp t to use force or \r\nunlawful force or attack against any officer or official to prevent him \r\nfrom performing his official duties; \r\n(e) snatch or attempt to snatch any official weapon, vehicle, uniform or \r\nother instruments or official belongings or restrain or atte mpt to snatch \r\nany official weapon, vehicle, uniform or official belongings or other \r\ninstruments from the officer or official or restrain or attempt to restrain \r\nany officer or official while performing his official duties; and \r\n(f) destroy, damage, attack or att empt to destroy, attack or damage to \r\nforest, forest produce, boundary pillars, Forest Protection Centers or \r\ncheck posts or towers, or other signs or indicators installed or \r\nestablished by the Department and burgle, damage, or unlawfully \r\ninterfere with any equipment, machinery, gadgets, or instruments \r\ninstalled or used by the Department. \r\n(2) If any person, involved in any of the organized offence and crime \r\nprovided in sub -section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend \r\n                                                           \r\n309Substituted for the words “which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred  rupees or with \r\nboth” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, \r\n2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 29(b).  \r\n310Substituted for the words \"three months\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.23.  \r\n311Substituted for the words \"twenty -five\" by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: December 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.23. \r\n312Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.24. \r\nto ten years but not less than eight years and with fine which shall not be less than \r\none million rupees but not more than ten million rupees, along with confiscation of \r\nthe weapon, article, forest produce, vehicle, equipment, machinery, cart, boat, cattle \r\nor any other article  or animal used in commission of offence in addition to the \r\ndamage provided under sub-section (3) of section 26 and in case of non -payment of \r\nfine, shall undergo one year imprisonment.] \r\n80. Management of forests the joint property of Government and other \r\npersons.– (1) If the Government and any person be jointly interested in any forest or \r\nwaste-land, or in the whole or any part of  the produce thereof, the \r\n313\r\n[\r\n314\r\n[Government]] \r\nmay either– \r\n(a) undertake the management of such forest, waste -land or produce, \r\naccounting to such person for his interest in the same; or \r\n(b) issue such regulations for the management of the forest, waste -land or \r\nproduce by the person so jointly interested as it deems necessary for \r\nthe management thereof and the interests of all parties therein. \r\n(2) When the \r\n315\r\n[\r\n316\r\n[Government]] undertakes under clause (a) of sub -\r\nsection (1) the management of any forest, waste -land or produce,  it may, by \r\nnotification in the  \r\n317\r\n[Official Gazette], declare that any of the provisions contained in \r\nChapters II and IV shall apply to such forest, waste -land or produce, and thereupon \r\nsuch provisions shall apply accordingly. \r\n318\r\n[\r\n319\r\n[80-A. Public private partnership .– (1) Subject to the Punjab Public Private \r\nPartnership Act 2014 (IX of 2014) and any other law for the time being  in force, the \r\nGovernment may itself or through a forest company invite proposals for the \r\ndevelopment of a forest land or wasteland.  \r\n(2) The Government may itself or through a forest company enter into \r\npublic private partnership for the development, prese rvation and conservation of a \r\nforest land or wasteland.  \r\n(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Government may itself or \r\nthrough a forest company permit any person to use a blank forest land or wasteland \r\nfor increase in the productivity of the forest.  \r\n                                                           \r\n313Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n314Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amend ment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n315Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations. \r\n316Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n317Substituted for the words “local official Gazette” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n318Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October \r\n21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 30.  \r\n319Substituted by the Punjab Forest (Am endment) Act 2016 (XIV of 2016), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), \r\ndated February 29, 2016, pp. 4045-4047, s. 4.  \r\n(4) The Government shall not permit use of forest land or wasteland \r\nassigned to a forest company for:  \r\n(a) construction of any permanent structure; or \r\n(b) change of land use for the purpose other than the development of \r\nforest or forest related activities.  \r\n(5) Subject to the Punjab Public Private Partnership Act 2014 (IX of 2014) \r\nand any other law for the time being in force, the Government or forest company \r\nshall enter into a detailed contractual arrangement with any person in accordance \r\nwith the provision of this section.  \r\n(6) If, in the opinion of the Government or forest company, the person has \r\nviolated any provision of the Act or the contractual arrangement, the Government \r\nmay, in addition to any other penalty prescribed under the Act, recover possession of \r\nthe forest land or wasteland from the occupant.  \r\n(7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the Government or \r\nforest company or any other occupant of the forestland or wasteland to permit or to \r\ndo an act, which is prohibited or punishable under the Act.]] \r\n320[80-B.  Protection of vulnerable, endangered and threatened native flora .- (1) \r\nThe Department shall by notification in the official Gazette declare any specie of \r\nnative flora or any specific tree as a protected species, if it is cl assified as \r\nvulnerable, endangered or threatened based on scientific assessment or ecological \r\nsurvey or historical or cultural importance or international conservation standers and \r\nsuch notification shall include: \r\n(a) the scientific and common name of the specie; \r\n(b) the geographic range and habitats where the species is protected; \r\n(c) specific conservation measures and restrictions applicable to the \r\nspecies; and \r\n(d) any other information or condition.  \r\n(2) In case protected species falls within a private land, the Departm ent \r\nshall facilitate the landowner in preserving and protecting such flora by providing \r\nalternative species, offering compensation at market value, or extending necessary \r\nphysical assistance as notified by the Department under sub-section (1).  \r\n(3) Unless expressly authorized by the Secretary, no person shall cut, \r\nuproot, damage , trade, transport, harvest or destroy any part of the protected \r\nspecies or its habitat and if any person contravenes the provision of this section  \r\nshall be punished with imprisonme nt which may extend to one year but not less \r\nthan six months and with fine which shall not be less than one hundred thousand \r\nrupees but not more than one million rupees, along with confiscation of the weapon, \r\narticle, forest produce, tree, wood, vehicles, equipment, machinery, cart, boat, cattle \r\nor any other article or animal used in commission of offence in addition to the \r\ndamage provided under sub -section (3) of section 26 and in case of non -payment \r\nof fine, shall undergo six months imprisonment and in case of a repeat offence, the \r\n                                                           \r\n320Inserted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2025 (CV of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: \r\nDecember 18, 2025, pp. 3283-3300, s.25.   \r\npenalty shall be double and subsequent penalties may further be enhanced \r\naccordingly. \r\n(4) The Department may periodically review and revise the list of protected \r\nspecies and un -list protected species on the recommendations of th e Director General \r\n(Forests).] \r\n81. Failure to perform service for which a share in produce of Government \r\nforest is enjoyed.– If any person be entitled to a share in the produce of any forest \r\nwhich is the property of Government or over which the Government has proprietary \r\nrights or to any part of the forest -produce of which the Government is entitled, upon \r\nthe condition of duly performing any service connected with such forest, such share \r\nshall be liable to confiscation in the event of the fact being establi shed to the \r\nsatisfaction of the \r\n321\r\n[\r\n322\r\n[Government]] that such service is no longer so performed: \r\n Provided that no such share shall be confiscated until the person entitled \r\nthereto, and the evidence, if any, which he may produce in proof of the due \r\nperformance of such service, have been heard by an officer duly appointed in that \r\nbehalf by the \r\n323\r\n[\r\n324\r\n[Government]]. \r\n82. Recovery of money due to Government .– All money payable to the \r\nGovernment under this Act, or under any rule made under this Act, or on account of \r\nthe price of any forest-produce, or of expenses incurred in the execution of this Act in \r\nrespect of such produce, may, if not paid when due, be recovered under the law for \r\nthe time being in force as if it were an arrear of land-revenue. \r\n83. Lien on forest -produce for such money .– (1) When any such money is \r\npayable for or in respect of any forest-produce, the amount thereof shall be deemed to \r\nbe a first charge on such produce, and such produce may be taken possession of by a \r\nForest-officer until such amount has been paid. \r\n (2) If such amount is not paid when due, the Forest -officer may sell such \r\nproduce by public auction, and the proceeds of the sale shall be applied first in \r\ndischarging such amount. \r\n(3) The surplus, if any, if not claimed within two months fro m the date of \r\nthe sale by the person entitled thereto, shall be forfeited to \r\n325\r\n[Government]. \r\n84. Land required under this Act to be deemed to be needed for a public \r\npurpose under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 .– Whenever it appears to the \r\n                                                           \r\n321Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table  of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n322Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n323Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations. \r\n324Substituted for the words “Provincial Government” by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n325Substituted for the word s “His Majesty” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No.  \r\nF.13(1)59-D&L, published in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp.  102-174, Article 2(2) read \r\nwith Table.  \r\n326\r\n[\r\n327\r\n[Government]] that any land is required for any of the purposes of this Act, such \r\nland shall be deemed to be needed for a public purpose within the meaning of section \r\n4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894\r\n328\r\n. \r\n85. Recovery of penalties due under bond .– When any person, in acc ordance \r\nwith any provision of this Act, or in compliance with any rule made thereunder, binds \r\nhimself by any bond or instrument to perform any duty or act, or covenants by any \r\nbond or instrument that he, or that he and his servants and agents will abstain from \r\nany act, the whole sum mentioned in such bond or instrument as the amount to be \r\npaid in case of a breach of the conditions thereof may, notwithstanding anything in \r\nsection 74 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872\r\n329\r\n, be recovered from him in case of such \r\nbreach as if it were an arrear of land-revenue. \r\n \r\n330\r\n[\r\n331\r\n[85A. * * * * * * * * *  ]] \r\n86. Repeals.– The enactments mentioned in the Schedule are hereby repealed to \r\nthe extent specified in the fourth column thereof. \r\n332\r\n[* * *] \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n                                                           \r\n326Substituted for the words “Local Government” by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian La ws) Order,  1937, \r\npublished in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp.  75-344, Article 4(1) read with Table of General \r\nAdaptations.  \r\n327Substituted for the wo rds “Provincial Government” by t he Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010),  published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October 21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 3. \r\n328I of 1894.  \r\n329IX of 1872.  \r\n330Inserted by the Government of India (Adaptation of Indian Laws) Order,  1937, published in the Gazette of India \r\n(Extraordinary), dated April 1, 1937, pp. 75-344, Article 3 read with Schedule I. \r\n331Omitted by the Forest (Amendment) Act 2010 (XVII of 2010), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated October \r\n21, 2010, pp. 1105-1114, s. 31.  \r\n332Repealed “THE SCHEDULE” by the Central Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1961 (I of 1961), vide Notification No. F.13(1)59-D&L, \r\npublished in the Gazette of Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated January 24, 1961, pp. 102-174, Article 2(3) read with Schedule.",
  "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive",
  "passages": [
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-0-1790:f06e7cf2bab7ffa1b68ec00a89e9ae0b798de1e58c4cbc4df8bd65abae44a7d3",
      "character_start": 0,
      "character_end": 1790,
      "utf8_byte_start": 0,
      "utf8_byte_end": 1790,
      "passage_sha256": "f06e7cf2bab7ffa1b68ec00a89e9ae0b798de1e58c4cbc4df8bd65abae44a7d3",
      "reader_fragment": "p-0-1790-f06e7cf2bab7ffa1"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-1790-3538:e86bc066815f40d698dd47700bde54a00193a300fd12bedb7723869682b317e4",
      "character_start": 1790,
      "character_end": 3538,
      "utf8_byte_start": 1790,
      "utf8_byte_end": 3538,
      "passage_sha256": "e86bc066815f40d698dd47700bde54a00193a300fd12bedb7723869682b317e4",
      "reader_fragment": "p-1790-3538-e86bc066815f40d6"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-3538-5325:b3a364c092bcca5393f7f74ab9fedc6e0054b5d9a1038413904d962c7c51ce2f",
      "character_start": 3538,
      "character_end": 5325,
      "utf8_byte_start": 3538,
      "utf8_byte_end": 5325,
      "passage_sha256": "b3a364c092bcca5393f7f74ab9fedc6e0054b5d9a1038413904d962c7c51ce2f",
      "reader_fragment": "p-3538-5325-b3a364c092bcca53"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-5325-7124:3fbc07d1d8e617cfec71ce5d16b7c3fdbe5558450db8afb8ea47db5fd37c89f6",
      "character_start": 5325,
      "character_end": 7124,
      "utf8_byte_start": 5325,
      "utf8_byte_end": 7128,
      "passage_sha256": "3fbc07d1d8e617cfec71ce5d16b7c3fdbe5558450db8afb8ea47db5fd37c89f6",
      "reader_fragment": "p-5325-7124-3fbc07d1d8e617cf"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-7124-8805:c4def248ae14cabf9ca7b7a2564de9c26ac5b10bc3519a3b1b91c56e7123a368",
      "character_start": 7124,
      "character_end": 8805,
      "utf8_byte_start": 7128,
      "utf8_byte_end": 8821,
      "passage_sha256": "c4def248ae14cabf9ca7b7a2564de9c26ac5b10bc3519a3b1b91c56e7123a368",
      "reader_fragment": "p-7124-8805-c4def248ae14cabf"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-8805-10600:4c6d362b2c39fe9654a92f5790a3767c5dda1e67435e59e6f56152917ee284e7",
      "character_start": 8805,
      "character_end": 10600,
      "utf8_byte_start": 8821,
      "utf8_byte_end": 10620,
      "passage_sha256": "4c6d362b2c39fe9654a92f5790a3767c5dda1e67435e59e6f56152917ee284e7",
      "reader_fragment": "p-8805-10600-4c6d362b2c39fe96"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-10600-12236:f336ffa475831148a36a46502ee5e6f99115d58a6b1652ee245bf5763626450a",
      "character_start": 10600,
      "character_end": 12236,
      "utf8_byte_start": 10620,
      "utf8_byte_end": 12310,
      "passage_sha256": "f336ffa475831148a36a46502ee5e6f99115d58a6b1652ee245bf5763626450a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-10600-12236-f336ffa475831148"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-12236-14030:df3e08591ae5e8650df817937a090488cf877fb5c9967e01ebe888594a6fd53b",
      "character_start": 12236,
      "character_end": 14030,
      "utf8_byte_start": 12310,
      "utf8_byte_end": 14104,
      "passage_sha256": "df3e08591ae5e8650df817937a090488cf877fb5c9967e01ebe888594a6fd53b",
      "reader_fragment": "p-12236-14030-df3e08591ae5e865"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-14030-15811:48e95e40394aad554da72fea7c811ab26c882eb3689752c006772be22dfda18d",
      "character_start": 14030,
      "character_end": 15811,
      "utf8_byte_start": 14104,
      "utf8_byte_end": 15931,
      "passage_sha256": "48e95e40394aad554da72fea7c811ab26c882eb3689752c006772be22dfda18d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-14030-15811-48e95e40394aad55"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-15811-17528:4b957a2fa401bd797016e832a3c648501636a933e4fae1a7e52ed6b3dcec68f2",
      "character_start": 15811,
      "character_end": 17528,
      "utf8_byte_start": 15931,
      "utf8_byte_end": 17698,
      "passage_sha256": "4b957a2fa401bd797016e832a3c648501636a933e4fae1a7e52ed6b3dcec68f2",
      "reader_fragment": "p-15811-17528-4b957a2fa401bd79"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-17528-19287:e732a186662f3d3e3abcfd0dccde230613e35417bc75ad79b39f37734dd44e0a",
      "character_start": 17528,
      "character_end": 19287,
      "utf8_byte_start": 17698,
      "utf8_byte_end": 19471,
      "passage_sha256": "e732a186662f3d3e3abcfd0dccde230613e35417bc75ad79b39f37734dd44e0a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-17528-19287-e732a186662f3d3e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-19287-20966:bdda5fe9e4c58def95c52f71b0bb47948d1686ab3e0f9403a4ce2db8012e0ff8",
      "character_start": 19287,
      "character_end": 20966,
      "utf8_byte_start": 19471,
      "utf8_byte_end": 21158,
      "passage_sha256": "bdda5fe9e4c58def95c52f71b0bb47948d1686ab3e0f9403a4ce2db8012e0ff8",
      "reader_fragment": "p-19287-20966-bdda5fe9e4c58def"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-20966-22733:3ad21a68e1e2e4b85c0c5f68771a97c94f889736c7cf45ab75b63c239ba1f8f5",
      "character_start": 20966,
      "character_end": 22733,
      "utf8_byte_start": 21158,
      "utf8_byte_end": 22953,
      "passage_sha256": "3ad21a68e1e2e4b85c0c5f68771a97c94f889736c7cf45ab75b63c239ba1f8f5",
      "reader_fragment": "p-20966-22733-3ad21a68e1e2e4b8"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-22733-24484:9addbdc08f99799286736c705d19808410326867c4ffda2c32c4dcf644120501",
      "character_start": 22733,
      "character_end": 24484,
      "utf8_byte_start": 22953,
      "utf8_byte_end": 24712,
      "passage_sha256": "9addbdc08f99799286736c705d19808410326867c4ffda2c32c4dcf644120501",
      "reader_fragment": "p-22733-24484-9addbdc08f997992"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-24484-26245:2c201cd7695a0f2124e43bb88ac9fea34f8fea24fd2667d9b7f53133b4e1e282",
      "character_start": 24484,
      "character_end": 26245,
      "utf8_byte_start": 24712,
      "utf8_byte_end": 26485,
      "passage_sha256": "2c201cd7695a0f2124e43bb88ac9fea34f8fea24fd2667d9b7f53133b4e1e282",
      "reader_fragment": "p-24484-26245-2c201cd7695a0f21"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-26245-27958:48053a8ba82f76f1c5154a1828e68141924ff4ec7f5250e4c0be9021ab8bd816",
      "character_start": 26245,
      "character_end": 27958,
      "utf8_byte_start": 26485,
      "utf8_byte_end": 28208,
      "passage_sha256": "48053a8ba82f76f1c5154a1828e68141924ff4ec7f5250e4c0be9021ab8bd816",
      "reader_fragment": "p-26245-27958-48053a8ba82f76f1"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-27958-29734:3c3752e9d7f9b0b2589311f8895169b1ade583b60e1075b51daf9f86230f16ad",
      "character_start": 27958,
      "character_end": 29734,
      "utf8_byte_start": 28208,
      "utf8_byte_end": 30006,
      "passage_sha256": "3c3752e9d7f9b0b2589311f8895169b1ade583b60e1075b51daf9f86230f16ad",
      "reader_fragment": "p-27958-29734-3c3752e9d7f9b0b2"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-29734-31489:cf24c536b4892d57e20373a6a0b99c3e019a341367877bd596300f5e89290c01",
      "character_start": 29734,
      "character_end": 31489,
      "utf8_byte_start": 30006,
      "utf8_byte_end": 31773,
      "passage_sha256": "cf24c536b4892d57e20373a6a0b99c3e019a341367877bd596300f5e89290c01",
      "reader_fragment": "p-29734-31489-cf24c536b4892d57"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-31489-33263:25771f7397b135015e3eefdd0db877099272c88246ebb27e1d84dd51cf524a7a",
      "character_start": 31489,
      "character_end": 33263,
      "utf8_byte_start": 31773,
      "utf8_byte_end": 33559,
      "passage_sha256": "25771f7397b135015e3eefdd0db877099272c88246ebb27e1d84dd51cf524a7a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-31489-33263-25771f7397b13501"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-33263-35049:71c1e94f919039b13b33f2613b37a27d7e61f7a42c578856c59e81da6290188d",
      "character_start": 33263,
      "character_end": 35049,
      "utf8_byte_start": 33559,
      "utf8_byte_end": 35357,
      "passage_sha256": "71c1e94f919039b13b33f2613b37a27d7e61f7a42c578856c59e81da6290188d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-33263-35049-71c1e94f919039b1"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-35049-36776:d84bb4f5a3b908d61f1f82cb74582b54f1ebbb385b6bf2944e0f41f2f7b7a9cd",
      "character_start": 35049,
      "character_end": 36776,
      "utf8_byte_start": 35357,
      "utf8_byte_end": 37102,
      "passage_sha256": "d84bb4f5a3b908d61f1f82cb74582b54f1ebbb385b6bf2944e0f41f2f7b7a9cd",
      "reader_fragment": "p-35049-36776-d84bb4f5a3b908d6"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-36776-38467:a3333484badbc2914711f3e5634fba2a44a86e89269cd3be4048655fd787e051",
      "character_start": 36776,
      "character_end": 38467,
      "utf8_byte_start": 37102,
      "utf8_byte_end": 38807,
      "passage_sha256": "a3333484badbc2914711f3e5634fba2a44a86e89269cd3be4048655fd787e051",
      "reader_fragment": "p-36776-38467-a3333484badbc291"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-38467-40161:335ac76be0177b8ea9b907aa6f8ba354216ba2d1ce22407a0ac264291d173d54",
      "character_start": 38467,
      "character_end": 40161,
      "utf8_byte_start": 38807,
      "utf8_byte_end": 40533,
      "passage_sha256": "335ac76be0177b8ea9b907aa6f8ba354216ba2d1ce22407a0ac264291d173d54",
      "reader_fragment": "p-38467-40161-335ac76be0177b8e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-40161-41949:1e7ca22479b10cf7aefd8a9e7b172308874542dd1a81022413431004f836ed0d",
      "character_start": 40161,
      "character_end": 41949,
      "utf8_byte_start": 40533,
      "utf8_byte_end": 42331,
      "passage_sha256": "1e7ca22479b10cf7aefd8a9e7b172308874542dd1a81022413431004f836ed0d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-40161-41949-1e7ca22479b10cf7"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-41949-43748:ae766e91ca91e3de655f06e7c9b66fa361aa0c68216f50c1358530ebab1a0e8a",
      "character_start": 41949,
      "character_end": 43748,
      "utf8_byte_start": 42331,
      "utf8_byte_end": 44152,
      "passage_sha256": "ae766e91ca91e3de655f06e7c9b66fa361aa0c68216f50c1358530ebab1a0e8a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-41949-43748-ae766e91ca91e3de"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-43748-45546:338e09167bd56611e90167e83635722a3573deadfb11b0d03f7685965aeb94fb",
      "character_start": 43748,
      "character_end": 45546,
      "utf8_byte_start": 44152,
      "utf8_byte_end": 45956,
      "passage_sha256": "338e09167bd56611e90167e83635722a3573deadfb11b0d03f7685965aeb94fb",
      "reader_fragment": "p-43748-45546-338e09167bd56611"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-45546-47267:f9de8c75a4391d52157ee0ac4490d391619370b963daf02aff5653631330d228",
      "character_start": 45546,
      "character_end": 47267,
      "utf8_byte_start": 45956,
      "utf8_byte_end": 47697,
      "passage_sha256": "f9de8c75a4391d52157ee0ac4490d391619370b963daf02aff5653631330d228",
      "reader_fragment": "p-45546-47267-f9de8c75a4391d52"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-47267-49061:5d644f71f876b929722d27999f5f280d01123d06877d6837b19a706102850270",
      "character_start": 47267,
      "character_end": 49061,
      "utf8_byte_start": 47697,
      "utf8_byte_end": 49503,
      "passage_sha256": "5d644f71f876b929722d27999f5f280d01123d06877d6837b19a706102850270",
      "reader_fragment": "p-47267-49061-5d644f71f876b929"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-49061-50849:1875ae377a7a6317752cc3c580cceeb0077a6f25fbdd1d99247a51330c012195",
      "character_start": 49061,
      "character_end": 50849,
      "utf8_byte_start": 49503,
      "utf8_byte_end": 51293,
      "passage_sha256": "1875ae377a7a6317752cc3c580cceeb0077a6f25fbdd1d99247a51330c012195",
      "reader_fragment": "p-49061-50849-1875ae377a7a6317"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-50849-52558:27473ada373de08c00f029009717fa7dc190d3c25a86bfb9ff6dda4118a7fba8",
      "character_start": 50849,
      "character_end": 52558,
      "utf8_byte_start": 51293,
      "utf8_byte_end": 53002,
      "passage_sha256": "27473ada373de08c00f029009717fa7dc190d3c25a86bfb9ff6dda4118a7fba8",
      "reader_fragment": "p-50849-52558-27473ada373de08c"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-52558-54274:fce45ca1ebe4ff8200a5773af7b0be5b3b7ab4073d03f736e0e9da47170c2275",
      "character_start": 52558,
      "character_end": 54274,
      "utf8_byte_start": 53002,
      "utf8_byte_end": 54718,
      "passage_sha256": "fce45ca1ebe4ff8200a5773af7b0be5b3b7ab4073d03f736e0e9da47170c2275",
      "reader_fragment": "p-52558-54274-fce45ca1ebe4ff82"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-54274-56068:342eeaceda58b4bce25e11818322e5585131761d2f13d12c164c559a26a0a444",
      "character_start": 54274,
      "character_end": 56068,
      "utf8_byte_start": 54718,
      "utf8_byte_end": 56512,
      "passage_sha256": "342eeaceda58b4bce25e11818322e5585131761d2f13d12c164c559a26a0a444",
      "reader_fragment": "p-54274-56068-342eeaceda58b4bc"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-56068-57833:11173118b42e47f3a30c2c7ba3c51bca4f962bd3f75b710d48e6150405725448",
      "character_start": 56068,
      "character_end": 57833,
      "utf8_byte_start": 56512,
      "utf8_byte_end": 58277,
      "passage_sha256": "11173118b42e47f3a30c2c7ba3c51bca4f962bd3f75b710d48e6150405725448",
      "reader_fragment": "p-56068-57833-11173118b42e47f3"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-57833-59610:13982f8a85897c02131b1d56b908595d4fb0ea2310c723fba064c1dc2136cead",
      "character_start": 57833,
      "character_end": 59610,
      "utf8_byte_start": 58277,
      "utf8_byte_end": 60056,
      "passage_sha256": "13982f8a85897c02131b1d56b908595d4fb0ea2310c723fba064c1dc2136cead",
      "reader_fragment": "p-57833-59610-13982f8a85897c02"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-59610-61298:ef3da1dc8749388ef4504af069a27088d1d2c4219966aa41b8ed89ca211f6fbc",
      "character_start": 59610,
      "character_end": 61298,
      "utf8_byte_start": 60056,
      "utf8_byte_end": 61746,
      "passage_sha256": "ef3da1dc8749388ef4504af069a27088d1d2c4219966aa41b8ed89ca211f6fbc",
      "reader_fragment": "p-59610-61298-ef3da1dc8749388e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-61298-63079:780e9d3dfb9038b21468336292ec39cbb7156792656ec1cae378252c54f7659e",
      "character_start": 61298,
      "character_end": 63079,
      "utf8_byte_start": 61746,
      "utf8_byte_end": 63531,
      "passage_sha256": "780e9d3dfb9038b21468336292ec39cbb7156792656ec1cae378252c54f7659e",
      "reader_fragment": "p-61298-63079-780e9d3dfb9038b2"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-63079-64813:8acd7fdeaaf855c7bba20b4f039dcf62f7b86c8fe52bdb94008009d6172934a8",
      "character_start": 63079,
      "character_end": 64813,
      "utf8_byte_start": 63531,
      "utf8_byte_end": 65265,
      "passage_sha256": "8acd7fdeaaf855c7bba20b4f039dcf62f7b86c8fe52bdb94008009d6172934a8",
      "reader_fragment": "p-63079-64813-8acd7fdeaaf855c7"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-64813-66600:c5c0b14a7d51feacb6bc80fa761ce79f4a7c9b9f623cbbc2137c1c7d6f6e4b9c",
      "character_start": 64813,
      "character_end": 66600,
      "utf8_byte_start": 65265,
      "utf8_byte_end": 67056,
      "passage_sha256": "c5c0b14a7d51feacb6bc80fa761ce79f4a7c9b9f623cbbc2137c1c7d6f6e4b9c",
      "reader_fragment": "p-64813-66600-c5c0b14a7d51feac"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-66600-68388:58921b1f3a51cca636ec42d0eb944aea90938c5fc5616e9e6d8fa71d9b95b9af",
      "character_start": 66600,
      "character_end": 68388,
      "utf8_byte_start": 67056,
      "utf8_byte_end": 68858,
      "passage_sha256": "58921b1f3a51cca636ec42d0eb944aea90938c5fc5616e9e6d8fa71d9b95b9af",
      "reader_fragment": "p-66600-68388-58921b1f3a51cca6"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-68388-70083:1d94c7a90881742a30b099faa57b2a2b2b05b602197832801580ba6eb441f1cd",
      "character_start": 68388,
      "character_end": 70083,
      "utf8_byte_start": 68858,
      "utf8_byte_end": 70573,
      "passage_sha256": "1d94c7a90881742a30b099faa57b2a2b2b05b602197832801580ba6eb441f1cd",
      "reader_fragment": "p-68388-70083-1d94c7a90881742a"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-70083-71831:1b16bd65f829801e750ce07d4f3c12daf581f8b091ff57690601bea96c1e927b",
      "character_start": 70083,
      "character_end": 71831,
      "utf8_byte_start": 70573,
      "utf8_byte_end": 72349,
      "passage_sha256": "1b16bd65f829801e750ce07d4f3c12daf581f8b091ff57690601bea96c1e927b",
      "reader_fragment": "p-70083-71831-1b16bd65f829801e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-71831-73569:ed8f119acd08d8286413c02dbaacf583ec5eea37c3572310eda3324e7e51c33b",
      "character_start": 71831,
      "character_end": 73569,
      "utf8_byte_start": 72349,
      "utf8_byte_end": 74097,
      "passage_sha256": "ed8f119acd08d8286413c02dbaacf583ec5eea37c3572310eda3324e7e51c33b",
      "reader_fragment": "p-71831-73569-ed8f119acd08d828"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-73569-75342:8a7edd920709d113c46051209d15ce5930f04ed94e781e58b5b0f13bb7f0a4c4",
      "character_start": 73569,
      "character_end": 75342,
      "utf8_byte_start": 74097,
      "utf8_byte_end": 75882,
      "passage_sha256": "8a7edd920709d113c46051209d15ce5930f04ed94e781e58b5b0f13bb7f0a4c4",
      "reader_fragment": "p-73569-75342-8a7edd920709d113"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-75342-77133:6f3499a81cbb312a910f7a2643b13f7612685559f29c262098ad351e203c5d92",
      "character_start": 75342,
      "character_end": 77133,
      "utf8_byte_start": 75882,
      "utf8_byte_end": 77677,
      "passage_sha256": "6f3499a81cbb312a910f7a2643b13f7612685559f29c262098ad351e203c5d92",
      "reader_fragment": "p-75342-77133-6f3499a81cbb312a"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-77133-78910:8bb72a3394624f66f2ae3467453f758c3a71e415feaced5bd50c363976545ca0",
      "character_start": 77133,
      "character_end": 78910,
      "utf8_byte_start": 77677,
      "utf8_byte_end": 79456,
      "passage_sha256": "8bb72a3394624f66f2ae3467453f758c3a71e415feaced5bd50c363976545ca0",
      "reader_fragment": "p-77133-78910-8bb72a3394624f66"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-78910-80631:e73b896e326584cfcde7708f43f6a0b421edd3c0b34ab6fb09f1d68e3c3808b1",
      "character_start": 78910,
      "character_end": 80631,
      "utf8_byte_start": 79456,
      "utf8_byte_end": 81177,
      "passage_sha256": "e73b896e326584cfcde7708f43f6a0b421edd3c0b34ab6fb09f1d68e3c3808b1",
      "reader_fragment": "p-78910-80631-e73b896e326584cf"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-80631-82384:757fc145cc1fb9f27139efb7b39f26d16adcdf0068ce11487452dc1b322d621a",
      "character_start": 80631,
      "character_end": 82384,
      "utf8_byte_start": 81177,
      "utf8_byte_end": 82930,
      "passage_sha256": "757fc145cc1fb9f27139efb7b39f26d16adcdf0068ce11487452dc1b322d621a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-80631-82384-757fc145cc1fb9f2"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-82384-84179:f3370c14c6e3954398799e18224ba078521cd502e0b94eeef69836cabdef9def",
      "character_start": 82384,
      "character_end": 84179,
      "utf8_byte_start": 82930,
      "utf8_byte_end": 84725,
      "passage_sha256": "f3370c14c6e3954398799e18224ba078521cd502e0b94eeef69836cabdef9def",
      "reader_fragment": "p-82384-84179-f3370c14c6e39543"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-84179-85911:74838011f82f53bc10586e8a329d1a38307e880c99ab0c7a471d1c115c2fe767",
      "character_start": 84179,
      "character_end": 85911,
      "utf8_byte_start": 84725,
      "utf8_byte_end": 86457,
      "passage_sha256": "74838011f82f53bc10586e8a329d1a38307e880c99ab0c7a471d1c115c2fe767",
      "reader_fragment": "p-84179-85911-74838011f82f53bc"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-85911-87708:4cdcb60b0cb6f564cd4db7837162c4bb49a6637eeba852c31640635d7c14feb1",
      "character_start": 85911,
      "character_end": 87708,
      "utf8_byte_start": 86457,
      "utf8_byte_end": 88258,
      "passage_sha256": "4cdcb60b0cb6f564cd4db7837162c4bb49a6637eeba852c31640635d7c14feb1",
      "reader_fragment": "p-85911-87708-4cdcb60b0cb6f564"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-87708-89476:672822bce2a8d29724e4a0b97dafefd97d6b318be6c8bf37ef0089b9a53aedb7",
      "character_start": 87708,
      "character_end": 89476,
      "utf8_byte_start": 88258,
      "utf8_byte_end": 90028,
      "passage_sha256": "672822bce2a8d29724e4a0b97dafefd97d6b318be6c8bf37ef0089b9a53aedb7",
      "reader_fragment": "p-87708-89476-672822bce2a8d297"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-89476-91197:5e793d5c7e604d7698ffbc3bc71c8bd8b99d7200ad55a0e6297cd974a0d89a24",
      "character_start": 89476,
      "character_end": 91197,
      "utf8_byte_start": 90028,
      "utf8_byte_end": 91753,
      "passage_sha256": "5e793d5c7e604d7698ffbc3bc71c8bd8b99d7200ad55a0e6297cd974a0d89a24",
      "reader_fragment": "p-89476-91197-5e793d5c7e604d76"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-91197-92970:d064dadcff0545b22c8c0e7bd25c1a3cfa986e1015d98e2a1fde9d70284182d6",
      "character_start": 91197,
      "character_end": 92970,
      "utf8_byte_start": 91753,
      "utf8_byte_end": 93526,
      "passage_sha256": "d064dadcff0545b22c8c0e7bd25c1a3cfa986e1015d98e2a1fde9d70284182d6",
      "reader_fragment": "p-91197-92970-d064dadcff0545b2"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-92970-94666:97f97e6e79bee93d609a76f254dbd988110646f9db93154d8cb45d9d7b0c8641",
      "character_start": 92970,
      "character_end": 94666,
      "utf8_byte_start": 93526,
      "utf8_byte_end": 95236,
      "passage_sha256": "97f97e6e79bee93d609a76f254dbd988110646f9db93154d8cb45d9d7b0c8641",
      "reader_fragment": "p-92970-94666-97f97e6e79bee93d"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-94666-96453:ca1604e322127a2c7292092ab82336c2fd214c8abc843413f5d8aa522c69820e",
      "character_start": 94666,
      "character_end": 96453,
      "utf8_byte_start": 95236,
      "utf8_byte_end": 97029,
      "passage_sha256": "ca1604e322127a2c7292092ab82336c2fd214c8abc843413f5d8aa522c69820e",
      "reader_fragment": "p-94666-96453-ca1604e322127a2c"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-96453-98217:c0569b230a0697209bb79af5bcd7fb5e10e1a3b27c6fbf1285c9b0d85a7052b9",
      "character_start": 96453,
      "character_end": 98217,
      "utf8_byte_start": 97029,
      "utf8_byte_end": 98815,
      "passage_sha256": "c0569b230a0697209bb79af5bcd7fb5e10e1a3b27c6fbf1285c9b0d85a7052b9",
      "reader_fragment": "p-96453-98217-c0569b230a069720"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-98217-100008:ed5727f1763479eb1ae3df006f08fd1dd592a37da66435a921006e0141df68a2",
      "character_start": 98217,
      "character_end": 100008,
      "utf8_byte_start": 98815,
      "utf8_byte_end": 100622,
      "passage_sha256": "ed5727f1763479eb1ae3df006f08fd1dd592a37da66435a921006e0141df68a2",
      "reader_fragment": "p-98217-100008-ed5727f1763479eb"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-100008-101790:dea6e1bffd96f9cc16302ddd3f344e19e9318989bf66988361f801ef82f8ae23",
      "character_start": 100008,
      "character_end": 101790,
      "utf8_byte_start": 100622,
      "utf8_byte_end": 102430,
      "passage_sha256": "dea6e1bffd96f9cc16302ddd3f344e19e9318989bf66988361f801ef82f8ae23",
      "reader_fragment": "p-100008-101790-dea6e1bffd96f9cc"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-101790-103575:214da6b03f114ba3d34b8c70b61cfb16563efd05fe335ecb2d854d3b7f6ef4f7",
      "character_start": 101790,
      "character_end": 103575,
      "utf8_byte_start": 102430,
      "utf8_byte_end": 104237,
      "passage_sha256": "214da6b03f114ba3d34b8c70b61cfb16563efd05fe335ecb2d854d3b7f6ef4f7",
      "reader_fragment": "p-101790-103575-214da6b03f114ba3"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-103575-105306:c2ce2d718171a43a929714f9b0e5c843536a65a06e8c71acc0974fd82d32f8e2",
      "character_start": 103575,
      "character_end": 105306,
      "utf8_byte_start": 104237,
      "utf8_byte_end": 105990,
      "passage_sha256": "c2ce2d718171a43a929714f9b0e5c843536a65a06e8c71acc0974fd82d32f8e2",
      "reader_fragment": "p-103575-105306-c2ce2d718171a43a"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-105306-107081:7ca55de03c98eae36ad036d13abf3104fbb5363716297a598ffbfa24bfc68a4e",
      "character_start": 105306,
      "character_end": 107081,
      "utf8_byte_start": 105990,
      "utf8_byte_end": 107785,
      "passage_sha256": "7ca55de03c98eae36ad036d13abf3104fbb5363716297a598ffbfa24bfc68a4e",
      "reader_fragment": "p-105306-107081-7ca55de03c98eae3"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-107081-108847:95d130460a60f6ae1da0facd0f0d444c08c90179779161a09cf10c27331f33c3",
      "character_start": 107081,
      "character_end": 108847,
      "utf8_byte_start": 107785,
      "utf8_byte_end": 109555,
      "passage_sha256": "95d130460a60f6ae1da0facd0f0d444c08c90179779161a09cf10c27331f33c3",
      "reader_fragment": "p-107081-108847-95d130460a60f6ae"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-108847-110640:3d43c1e50f0dd0044815570da7d0d378dd53d3886e06735151d6b04a94e35d99",
      "character_start": 108847,
      "character_end": 110640,
      "utf8_byte_start": 109555,
      "utf8_byte_end": 111368,
      "passage_sha256": "3d43c1e50f0dd0044815570da7d0d378dd53d3886e06735151d6b04a94e35d99",
      "reader_fragment": "p-108847-110640-3d43c1e50f0dd004"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-110640-112367:b9f17fbfcf1e4829da23f8a57072fcf385f48baacc9e6fb376458a80034bbf17",
      "character_start": 110640,
      "character_end": 112367,
      "utf8_byte_start": 111368,
      "utf8_byte_end": 113097,
      "passage_sha256": "b9f17fbfcf1e4829da23f8a57072fcf385f48baacc9e6fb376458a80034bbf17",
      "reader_fragment": "p-110640-112367-b9f17fbfcf1e4829"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-112367-114063:142b91a2f715aa12c1195d7b86d84758479f0921c191cb9dae5a474c3adcb60a",
      "character_start": 112367,
      "character_end": 114063,
      "utf8_byte_start": 113097,
      "utf8_byte_end": 114817,
      "passage_sha256": "142b91a2f715aa12c1195d7b86d84758479f0921c191cb9dae5a474c3adcb60a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-112367-114063-142b91a2f715aa12"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-114063-115844:2f49059951cf5963c458cde75721e63af52ee1df09b5e6fc73fa3a57e922e650",
      "character_start": 114063,
      "character_end": 115844,
      "utf8_byte_start": 114817,
      "utf8_byte_end": 116614,
      "passage_sha256": "2f49059951cf5963c458cde75721e63af52ee1df09b5e6fc73fa3a57e922e650",
      "reader_fragment": "p-114063-115844-2f49059951cf5963"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-115844-117584:99663579a61f35b27c05a5b31216f1de1f3077816f93bfa47fa8b85ed37ee98f",
      "character_start": 115844,
      "character_end": 117584,
      "utf8_byte_start": 116614,
      "utf8_byte_end": 118362,
      "passage_sha256": "99663579a61f35b27c05a5b31216f1de1f3077816f93bfa47fa8b85ed37ee98f",
      "reader_fragment": "p-115844-117584-99663579a61f35b2"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-117584-119331:aefbafb1e4b0e4c768cee35096223449b71f66510d3a53914a5bd70ef77bd3ad",
      "character_start": 117584,
      "character_end": 119331,
      "utf8_byte_start": 118362,
      "utf8_byte_end": 120125,
      "passage_sha256": "aefbafb1e4b0e4c768cee35096223449b71f66510d3a53914a5bd70ef77bd3ad",
      "reader_fragment": "p-117584-119331-aefbafb1e4b0e4c7"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-119331-121115:11d32bc9f13b9690d93e40476b3ea1e648a4b6827b535de5383d2054b3403426",
      "character_start": 119331,
      "character_end": 121115,
      "utf8_byte_start": 120125,
      "utf8_byte_end": 121917,
      "passage_sha256": "11d32bc9f13b9690d93e40476b3ea1e648a4b6827b535de5383d2054b3403426",
      "reader_fragment": "p-119331-121115-11d32bc9f13b9690"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-121115-122886:07768040d78dcd3c12eca6cd086fdaf58e83627acb4df9c291cd037c6ba5d18d",
      "character_start": 121115,
      "character_end": 122886,
      "utf8_byte_start": 121917,
      "utf8_byte_end": 123714,
      "passage_sha256": "07768040d78dcd3c12eca6cd086fdaf58e83627acb4df9c291cd037c6ba5d18d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-121115-122886-07768040d78dcd3c"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-122886-124637:0fe2d9d840b97034d8c796d1695cbe82d0edf7e5b6930ea41da6440553370521",
      "character_start": 122886,
      "character_end": 124637,
      "utf8_byte_start": 123714,
      "utf8_byte_end": 125473,
      "passage_sha256": "0fe2d9d840b97034d8c796d1695cbe82d0edf7e5b6930ea41da6440553370521",
      "reader_fragment": "p-122886-124637-0fe2d9d840b97034"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-124637-126426:423179751fbdb14e50d9d01ea6537e03a92313a030ef29cdcda4a3b8f513aeac",
      "character_start": 124637,
      "character_end": 126426,
      "utf8_byte_start": 125473,
      "utf8_byte_end": 127286,
      "passage_sha256": "423179751fbdb14e50d9d01ea6537e03a92313a030ef29cdcda4a3b8f513aeac",
      "reader_fragment": "p-124637-126426-423179751fbdb14e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-126426-128169:8fc1f853e3a27c2b78fdc068734ba959d129cb700577da798dfcf9b953dea278",
      "character_start": 126426,
      "character_end": 128169,
      "utf8_byte_start": 127286,
      "utf8_byte_end": 129029,
      "passage_sha256": "8fc1f853e3a27c2b78fdc068734ba959d129cb700577da798dfcf9b953dea278",
      "reader_fragment": "p-126426-128169-8fc1f853e3a27c2b"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-128169-129949:1836b93962284c559cf47ec1c08f030d6b1fcf6d471e12b1c67c297632185be5",
      "character_start": 128169,
      "character_end": 129949,
      "utf8_byte_start": 129029,
      "utf8_byte_end": 130811,
      "passage_sha256": "1836b93962284c559cf47ec1c08f030d6b1fcf6d471e12b1c67c297632185be5",
      "reader_fragment": "p-128169-129949-1836b93962284c55"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-129949-131748:187027a8faf0a73ca4696af63b35d56ebcada498546fa904dfd4464f234dcdd4",
      "character_start": 129949,
      "character_end": 131748,
      "utf8_byte_start": 130811,
      "utf8_byte_end": 132610,
      "passage_sha256": "187027a8faf0a73ca4696af63b35d56ebcada498546fa904dfd4464f234dcdd4",
      "reader_fragment": "p-129949-131748-187027a8faf0a73c"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-131748-133529:a521eccb36b2b2bb7098ed5ddaf5a669eeeb95a76e7885854b19290f326b3ee0",
      "character_start": 131748,
      "character_end": 133529,
      "utf8_byte_start": 132610,
      "utf8_byte_end": 134391,
      "passage_sha256": "a521eccb36b2b2bb7098ed5ddaf5a669eeeb95a76e7885854b19290f326b3ee0",
      "reader_fragment": "p-131748-133529-a521eccb36b2b2bb"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-133529-135252:e4bae39aaf5f87ab099249cb329467ccfd206d2368173d7e0fd71165b81714a7",
      "character_start": 133529,
      "character_end": 135252,
      "utf8_byte_start": 134391,
      "utf8_byte_end": 136116,
      "passage_sha256": "e4bae39aaf5f87ab099249cb329467ccfd206d2368173d7e0fd71165b81714a7",
      "reader_fragment": "p-133529-135252-e4bae39aaf5f87ab"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-135252-137052:fbd957adb4035b96edd9b33f3c5882cf5b1b6d14743a52f4517d2ead7f7693a6",
      "character_start": 135252,
      "character_end": 137052,
      "utf8_byte_start": 136116,
      "utf8_byte_end": 137916,
      "passage_sha256": "fbd957adb4035b96edd9b33f3c5882cf5b1b6d14743a52f4517d2ead7f7693a6",
      "reader_fragment": "p-135252-137052-fbd957adb4035b96"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-137052-138801:98377f8c6afa042540ddb0c4f3a28359173329e2f3fc0db0b6ae328eb735611d",
      "character_start": 137052,
      "character_end": 138801,
      "utf8_byte_start": 137916,
      "utf8_byte_end": 139667,
      "passage_sha256": "98377f8c6afa042540ddb0c4f3a28359173329e2f3fc0db0b6ae328eb735611d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-137052-138801-98377f8c6afa0425"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-138801-140542:4b60a341eacd88673182d8977eaa298c95952565af3811e3412a767a10a50128",
      "character_start": 138801,
      "character_end": 140542,
      "utf8_byte_start": 139667,
      "utf8_byte_end": 141408,
      "passage_sha256": "4b60a341eacd88673182d8977eaa298c95952565af3811e3412a767a10a50128",
      "reader_fragment": "p-138801-140542-4b60a341eacd8867"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-140542-142331:69e25a1ba1bcd5dc73872563390c8f2c78a3a77e17753178a6a08d4eda7486e0",
      "character_start": 140542,
      "character_end": 142331,
      "utf8_byte_start": 141408,
      "utf8_byte_end": 143199,
      "passage_sha256": "69e25a1ba1bcd5dc73872563390c8f2c78a3a77e17753178a6a08d4eda7486e0",
      "reader_fragment": "p-140542-142331-69e25a1ba1bcd5dc"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-142331-144114:f7d86c170dea6dce94838966f71c960f2016ee718127a7ccb1ce282b5d653205",
      "character_start": 142331,
      "character_end": 144114,
      "utf8_byte_start": 143199,
      "utf8_byte_end": 144982,
      "passage_sha256": "f7d86c170dea6dce94838966f71c960f2016ee718127a7ccb1ce282b5d653205",
      "reader_fragment": "p-142331-144114-f7d86c170dea6dce"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-144114-145854:acfd69a8304547d30d6aad570a8921d8ff75ce281c9a824563ee15d998f9896b",
      "character_start": 144114,
      "character_end": 145854,
      "utf8_byte_start": 144982,
      "utf8_byte_end": 146722,
      "passage_sha256": "acfd69a8304547d30d6aad570a8921d8ff75ce281c9a824563ee15d998f9896b",
      "reader_fragment": "p-144114-145854-acfd69a8304547d3"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-145854-147579:e27003a7a78fa00eab4ad90120242412ed5141a843f881ce45424625f0087179",
      "character_start": 145854,
      "character_end": 147579,
      "utf8_byte_start": 146722,
      "utf8_byte_end": 148447,
      "passage_sha256": "e27003a7a78fa00eab4ad90120242412ed5141a843f881ce45424625f0087179",
      "reader_fragment": "p-145854-147579-e27003a7a78fa00e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-147579-149329:6fefc0813ba0b2f6d1a0772f60d4700d97133b09b950ef644e526d7223c6679f",
      "character_start": 147579,
      "character_end": 149329,
      "utf8_byte_start": 148447,
      "utf8_byte_end": 150197,
      "passage_sha256": "6fefc0813ba0b2f6d1a0772f60d4700d97133b09b950ef644e526d7223c6679f",
      "reader_fragment": "p-147579-149329-6fefc0813ba0b2f6"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-149329-151055:2eca1d09e7edc31e537fc437a56bfe497d4e6a0cf8a48f7f315b3370908e0dc4",
      "character_start": 149329,
      "character_end": 151055,
      "utf8_byte_start": 150197,
      "utf8_byte_end": 151933,
      "passage_sha256": "2eca1d09e7edc31e537fc437a56bfe497d4e6a0cf8a48f7f315b3370908e0dc4",
      "reader_fragment": "p-149329-151055-2eca1d09e7edc31e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-151055-152829:0c981c58906538a658028d0c666a9395865a215cd4d2711a9e41d584494b6810",
      "character_start": 151055,
      "character_end": 152829,
      "utf8_byte_start": 151933,
      "utf8_byte_end": 153713,
      "passage_sha256": "0c981c58906538a658028d0c666a9395865a215cd4d2711a9e41d584494b6810",
      "reader_fragment": "p-151055-152829-0c981c58906538a6"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-152829-154612:0437d568c191b2d91cd801198b77e6610f8de0162f5bc3268675d00439871d25",
      "character_start": 152829,
      "character_end": 154612,
      "utf8_byte_start": 153713,
      "utf8_byte_end": 155500,
      "passage_sha256": "0437d568c191b2d91cd801198b77e6610f8de0162f5bc3268675d00439871d25",
      "reader_fragment": "p-152829-154612-0437d568c191b2d9"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-154612-156384:c75b238f78b1402b3843a52dca07cfef9b94a94b9543e571765e2c94ad7e6d02",
      "character_start": 154612,
      "character_end": 156384,
      "utf8_byte_start": 155500,
      "utf8_byte_end": 157276,
      "passage_sha256": "c75b238f78b1402b3843a52dca07cfef9b94a94b9543e571765e2c94ad7e6d02",
      "reader_fragment": "p-154612-156384-c75b238f78b1402b"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-156384-158162:d8caf0401904bbe10648be912e6587f2f04372007626f8d4a70e608374a13f84",
      "character_start": 156384,
      "character_end": 158162,
      "utf8_byte_start": 157276,
      "utf8_byte_end": 159058,
      "passage_sha256": "d8caf0401904bbe10648be912e6587f2f04372007626f8d4a70e608374a13f84",
      "reader_fragment": "p-156384-158162-d8caf0401904bbe1"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-158162-159911:6720b7ed71892ca590d839a21c50b76e2ed8149feda7fa77272e4d83873063bf",
      "character_start": 158162,
      "character_end": 159911,
      "utf8_byte_start": 159058,
      "utf8_byte_end": 160809,
      "passage_sha256": "6720b7ed71892ca590d839a21c50b76e2ed8149feda7fa77272e4d83873063bf",
      "reader_fragment": "p-158162-159911-6720b7ed71892ca5"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-159911-161708:ac199b470ae746175bb0b47e1db0d70b6cf650362bcd802fd1c0c1ce7d663465",
      "character_start": 159911,
      "character_end": 161708,
      "utf8_byte_start": 160809,
      "utf8_byte_end": 162612,
      "passage_sha256": "ac199b470ae746175bb0b47e1db0d70b6cf650362bcd802fd1c0c1ce7d663465",
      "reader_fragment": "p-159911-161708-ac199b470ae74617"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-161708-163461:4d5c229ccd04431e5aed647efab1a7668c2f7ba96518c1f46781e2c0b8f6491f",
      "character_start": 161708,
      "character_end": 163461,
      "utf8_byte_start": 162612,
      "utf8_byte_end": 164371,
      "passage_sha256": "4d5c229ccd04431e5aed647efab1a7668c2f7ba96518c1f46781e2c0b8f6491f",
      "reader_fragment": "p-161708-163461-4d5c229ccd04431e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-163461-165198:8b6424e36f76fd1eeda0ba9e2096be299d7730b6653e9630908f87f226472842",
      "character_start": 163461,
      "character_end": 165198,
      "utf8_byte_start": 164371,
      "utf8_byte_end": 166118,
      "passage_sha256": "8b6424e36f76fd1eeda0ba9e2096be299d7730b6653e9630908f87f226472842",
      "reader_fragment": "p-163461-165198-8b6424e36f76fd1e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-165198-166987:db4ed6b53172885fd8ed3383b4856be0ffe35b4c91778d2cf08188f225956147",
      "character_start": 165198,
      "character_end": 166987,
      "utf8_byte_start": 166118,
      "utf8_byte_end": 167923,
      "passage_sha256": "db4ed6b53172885fd8ed3383b4856be0ffe35b4c91778d2cf08188f225956147",
      "reader_fragment": "p-165198-166987-db4ed6b53172885f"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-166987-168675:507a6509914ea44e256491459a6207b79bd4380e09e576c0986fe37239808be2",
      "character_start": 166987,
      "character_end": 168675,
      "utf8_byte_start": 167923,
      "utf8_byte_end": 169627,
      "passage_sha256": "507a6509914ea44e256491459a6207b79bd4380e09e576c0986fe37239808be2",
      "reader_fragment": "p-166987-168675-507a6509914ea44e"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-168675-170454:0f2a87bd7fb7f735c438b9efc53d8f0b789197322716d7303746f3431ecab8e9",
      "character_start": 168675,
      "character_end": 170454,
      "utf8_byte_start": 169627,
      "utf8_byte_end": 171428,
      "passage_sha256": "0f2a87bd7fb7f735c438b9efc53d8f0b789197322716d7303746f3431ecab8e9",
      "reader_fragment": "p-168675-170454-0f2a87bd7fb7f735"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-170454-172195:969901d86cda4f3b45a179abc1dbacd3bb967150512856c367c4480a5ceb0f34",
      "character_start": 170454,
      "character_end": 172195,
      "utf8_byte_start": 171428,
      "utf8_byte_end": 173171,
      "passage_sha256": "969901d86cda4f3b45a179abc1dbacd3bb967150512856c367c4480a5ceb0f34",
      "reader_fragment": "p-170454-172195-969901d86cda4f3b"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-172195-173944:a170880c14033d33324e6fff8ce6fa4212694b28987e0f3c9eb33b9a56c9e4ff",
      "character_start": 172195,
      "character_end": 173944,
      "utf8_byte_start": 173171,
      "utf8_byte_end": 174922,
      "passage_sha256": "a170880c14033d33324e6fff8ce6fa4212694b28987e0f3c9eb33b9a56c9e4ff",
      "reader_fragment": "p-172195-173944-a170880c14033d33"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-173944-175696:7cd23d65804e93da1d6f71239a4872f246ca33c2c7c0e7be661240095ee06f5b",
      "character_start": 173944,
      "character_end": 175696,
      "utf8_byte_start": 174922,
      "utf8_byte_end": 176692,
      "passage_sha256": "7cd23d65804e93da1d6f71239a4872f246ca33c2c7c0e7be661240095ee06f5b",
      "reader_fragment": "p-173944-175696-7cd23d65804e93da"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-175696-177445:e3215cffa90fe991f20652e240811462d037e5d86b2532cc25af1d3d0819ba5f",
      "character_start": 175696,
      "character_end": 177445,
      "utf8_byte_start": 176692,
      "utf8_byte_end": 178449,
      "passage_sha256": "e3215cffa90fe991f20652e240811462d037e5d86b2532cc25af1d3d0819ba5f",
      "reader_fragment": "p-175696-177445-e3215cffa90fe991"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-177445-179217:52283744ea6bb08680ede6671a2053e7ee529f8d70ed856920945b0006f37fbf",
      "character_start": 177445,
      "character_end": 179217,
      "utf8_byte_start": 178449,
      "utf8_byte_end": 180225,
      "passage_sha256": "52283744ea6bb08680ede6671a2053e7ee529f8d70ed856920945b0006f37fbf",
      "reader_fragment": "p-177445-179217-52283744ea6bb086"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-179217-180944:9c3cd234e58a54e6eaba059890ecd594516c73ef85aae0b5b8c013c088747744",
      "character_start": 179217,
      "character_end": 180944,
      "utf8_byte_start": 180225,
      "utf8_byte_end": 181956,
      "passage_sha256": "9c3cd234e58a54e6eaba059890ecd594516c73ef85aae0b5b8c013c088747744",
      "reader_fragment": "p-179217-180944-9c3cd234e58a54e6"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-180944-182741:b121e58730008c234ba28204df6bea6e3d277a0d19e91c396b88c55e6950fa2e",
      "character_start": 180944,
      "character_end": 182741,
      "utf8_byte_start": 181956,
      "utf8_byte_end": 183767,
      "passage_sha256": "b121e58730008c234ba28204df6bea6e3d277a0d19e91c396b88c55e6950fa2e",
      "reader_fragment": "p-180944-182741-b121e58730008c23"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-182741-184474:dbe90e817c7243f37c28150af53f1b4fa558d00a568bc6b60166cbcd2d58e2d6",
      "character_start": 182741,
      "character_end": 184474,
      "utf8_byte_start": 183767,
      "utf8_byte_end": 185508,
      "passage_sha256": "dbe90e817c7243f37c28150af53f1b4fa558d00a568bc6b60166cbcd2d58e2d6",
      "reader_fragment": "p-182741-184474-dbe90e817c7243f3"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-184474-186244:a4da06fa1743bdd32671019dbf5ea4791030c63144b4cc9efea9f70858230ce8",
      "character_start": 184474,
      "character_end": 186244,
      "utf8_byte_start": 185508,
      "utf8_byte_end": 187278,
      "passage_sha256": "a4da06fa1743bdd32671019dbf5ea4791030c63144b4cc9efea9f70858230ce8",
      "reader_fragment": "p-184474-186244-a4da06fa1743bdd3"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-186244-188034:617fbc03b8d71be7f96bc7fbf34c8446160aaa483b16c59c5edc34cd304e072d",
      "character_start": 186244,
      "character_end": 188034,
      "utf8_byte_start": 187278,
      "utf8_byte_end": 189072,
      "passage_sha256": "617fbc03b8d71be7f96bc7fbf34c8446160aaa483b16c59c5edc34cd304e072d",
      "reader_fragment": "p-186244-188034-617fbc03b8d71be7"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-188034-189728:f1465ad771e2bf232eaadd04be69b9e1ee19034a5f5a43d2680a35c64e0b377a",
      "character_start": 188034,
      "character_end": 189728,
      "utf8_byte_start": 189072,
      "utf8_byte_end": 190782,
      "passage_sha256": "f1465ad771e2bf232eaadd04be69b9e1ee19034a5f5a43d2680a35c64e0b377a",
      "reader_fragment": "p-188034-189728-f1465ad771e2bf23"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-189728-191521:d45730cf58a9aa5b341c9c49bf5e3a83e9eb21ea388f98858b71758e79d2d6fb",
      "character_start": 189728,
      "character_end": 191521,
      "utf8_byte_start": 190782,
      "utf8_byte_end": 192587,
      "passage_sha256": "d45730cf58a9aa5b341c9c49bf5e3a83e9eb21ea388f98858b71758e79d2d6fb",
      "reader_fragment": "p-189728-191521-d45730cf58a9aa5b"
    },
    {
      "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9f726e5742bc3e6b:sha256:3a29100841c6e7e2acc449833d1018b37a642435bfa3b0dadac0a1ee58f8d115:chars-191521-192634:42be276f6f2849b454480175da3e72391f1b3680b29d1a06fd7c4202c1cc2c34",
      "character_start": 191521,
      "character_end": 192634,
      "utf8_byte_start": 192587,
      "utf8_byte_end": 193712,
      "passage_sha256": "42be276f6f2849b454480175da3e72391f1b3680b29d1a06fd7c4202c1cc2c34",
      "reader_fragment": "p-191521-192634-42be276f6f2849b4"
    }
  ]
}