Rules Regarding the Registration of Timber Depots

Rules Regarding the Registration of Timber Depots

Rule framed under section 3 of the Punjab Forest (Sale of Timber) Act, 1913 (3 of 1913) Published vide Punjab Government Notification No. 1436, dated 12.1.1923, and amended by Notification No. 14696, dated 11.5.1927

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Rules regarding the registration of Timber Depots under section 3 of the Punjab Forest (Sale of Timber) Act, 1913 (3 of 1913)

1. In these Rules -

(i) "Timber" includes only the following kinds :- Deodar (Cerdrus deodara), vernacular deodar, diar, Blue-Pine (Pinus excelsa), vernacular kail, ander, anander, biar, Chir pine (Pinus logifolia), vernacular chil, Spruce (Picea Morinda), vernacular tos, partal, silver fir (Abies Pindrow), vernacular via, partal.

(ii) "Depot" means any building or place where timber is brought or stored for sale.

2. No person shall establish or maintain a depot unless it is registered in accordance with these rules.
3. Any person wishing to establish or maintain a depot shall register the same in the office of the Forest Division in which the depot is situated, and shall give in respect of such depot such details in regard to origin of timber as may be required by the Conservator of Forests. Every person registering a depot shall be and remain responsible for the observance of all rules which may from time to time be notified by the Punjab Government under section 3 of the Punjab Forest (Sale of Timber) Act, 1913, provided that the Divisional Forest Officer, with the approval of the Conservator, may exempt by order in writing any timber dealer from the operation of such rules as he may consider necessary. Each depot registered under this rule shall be assigned a number by the registering officer. In the case of persons having depots at the date of the publication of these rules a period of six months from such date will be allowed within which the depots existing on such date shall be registered.
4. The Officer-in-charge of a Forest Division may refuse registration at discretion for reasons which shall be stated in writing, but an appeal against an order refusing registration shall lie to the Deputy Commissioners. No owner of a depot, in the following mandies, in existence at the time of the introduction of these rules, shall be refused registration :-

[Beas, Phillaur, Forezepur.]

5. Every person having a registered depot shall register his sale-hammer-mark in the office of the Forest Division in which the depot is situated.

No fees shall be paid for the registration of the sale-hammer-mark.

6. No person shall be allowed to register a mark already registered in favour of another person, nor any mark used by Government, and the Officer-in-charge of a Forest Division may refuse registration of any mark which in his judgment so closely resembles a mark used by Government or registered in favour of any person as to be easily altered to counterfeit such mark.
7. The registration of a mark under rules 6 shall hold good for a period of three years from the date of such registration.
8. The owner or person in charge of a registered depot may at the discretion of the Divisional Forest Officer, be required to maintain correctly either or both of the following forms :-

(i) A register of receipts of timber, showing -

(1) Date of receipt.

(2) Whence received.

(3) Name of person from whom received.

(4) Species.

(5) Marks.

(6) Number of logs or pieces.

(7) Description.

(8) Remarks.

(ii) A register of sale and removals of timber, showing -

(1) Date of sale.

(2) Date of removal of timber from depot.

(3) Name of person to whom sold or made over.

(4) Destination.

(5) Species.

(6) Marks.

(7) Number.

(8) Description.

(9) Remarks.

9. Every owner or person in charge of a registered depot shall produce the above registers for scrutiny when called upon to do so []by the Divisional Forest Officer or a Gazetted Officer deputed by him, such official may at any time between sunrise and sunset enter a registered depot for such purposes.
10. No timber shall be removed from any registered depot until it has been marked with the registered sale-hammer mark of the owner of the registered depot.
11. Sale-hammer marks shall be surrendered to the Divisional Forest Officer on the cancellation of any registration or on demise of the owner of the mark in whose name it has been registered.
12. No timber shall be removed from any registered depot unless accompanied by a form of receipt approved by the Conservator of Forests.
13. Whoever infringes any of the rules shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both. Double penalties may be inflicted where the offence is committed after sunset and before sunrise, or after preparation for resistance to lawful authority or if the offender has been previously convicted of any offence under these rules.

[Rules describing the Tracts to which the Punjab Forest (Sale of Timber) Act shall apply]

1. The tract lying on each side of the Ravi River within a 10 mile limit from the bank of the river at highest flood level except the tract as does not fall within the State of Punjab.
2. The tract lying on each side of the river within a 10 mile limit from the bank of river at highest flood level from Nadaun to its junction with the Sutlej River at Hari Ka Pattan.
3. (a) The tract lying on each side of the Sutlej River within a 10 mile limit from the bank of the river at highest flood level except such portion as falls within the territories of the State of Himachal Pradesh from Handola to Ferozepur.

(b) The tract lying on each side of the Sirhind Canal within a 10 mile limit from the bank of canal from the Headworks of the canal to a point 5 miles below Doraha.

4. (a) The tract lying on right bank of Jamuna River within a 10 mile limit from the bank river at highest flood level from the point at which the river enters the territory of the State of Punjab to the point it leaves the territory of the State of Punjab except such portion as falls within the State of Delhi territory.

(b) The tract lying on each side of the Western Jamuna Canal within a 10 mile limit except such portion as does not fall within the State of Punjab from the bank of the canal from the Headworks of the canal to a point five miles below Jamunanagar.