The amendment to Section 33(2) of the Indian Forest Act extended the maximum sentence, impacting the limitation for taking cognizance and influencing the court's decision.

Saurabh Shyam Shamshery, J.

1. Nobody is present to press the present application even in the revised reading of the cause list. Learned Additional Government Advocate is present for the State.

2. I have perused the records.

3. The present application has been filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing of the proceedings of Case No. 4615 of 2006, State vs. Raghunath and Others under Section 33(c) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 pending before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate 1st, Shahjahanpur.

4. From the perusal of the records it appears that opposite party no. 2 lodged a first information report against the applicants under Section 33(c) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 in police station-Sadar, Shahjahanpur (Kotwali) on 03.05.2004, which states as under:-

^^jsat dsl la[;k 4@04&05@'kkgtgkaiqj jsat Jh equh'k dqekj pkS/kjh ouokjh }kjk fnukad 3-5-2004 dks tkjh fd;k x;kA bldh tkap esjs }kjk dh x;h tkap ds nkSjku ik;k fd Jh fot; dqekj iqjk lkmFk flVh tykykckn flVh dkiksZjsV vkfQl LVsfM;e jksM cjsyh] ,Œ j?kqukFk ÁcU/k ,YkkVk tykykckn ekxZ ds 1 fdŒehŒ 469 ls 470 ds e/; cjsyh eksM+ ls vkxs nk;ha iVjh ij fuekZ.kk/khu lkmFk flVh dkyksuh ds rhu xsVksa ds lkeus 8 xq.kk 14 feŒ o 65 xq.kk 21 ehŒ rFkk 10 xq.kk 16 ehŒ esa lajf{kr ou Hkwfe ij voS/k :i ls igqap ekxZ dk fuekZ.k fd;k gS] ogka ns[kus ls ;g Li"V gks jgk gS fd ogka igys o`{k jgs gksa ftudks gVk;k x;k gS Lo;a Ákd`frd :i ls mls dScksa dks ugV fd;k x;k gSA mDr ekxZ ds fdukjs fd Hkwfe vf/klwpuk la[;k 1115@ xq.kk 4&331&50 fnukad 10-2-1960 ls Hkkjrh; ou vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk&29 ls lajf{kr ou ?kksf"kr ,oa bl rjg dk voS/k dk;Z Hkkjrh; ou vf/kfu;e 1927 dh /kkjk&33 ¼lhŒ½ rFkk ou laj{k.k vf/kfu;e 1980 dh /kkjk&2 ds rgr vijk/k gSA

Jh fot; dqekj lkmFk flVh tykykckn jksM 'kkgtgkaiqj Jh vjofUnj flag ÁcU/k funs'kd ,yk;Ul lkmFk flVh dkiksZjsV vkfQl LVsfM;e jksM cjsyh] ,Œ j?kqukFk ÁcU/k ,yk;Ul lkmFk flVh tykykckn jksM fudV cjsyh eksM+ 'kkgtgkaiqj esa lajf{kr ou Hkwfe ij voS/k dCtk dj xS[kkfudh Á;ksx esa mldk mi;ksx fd;k gSA budk ;g d`R; Hkkjrh; ou vf/kfu;e 1927 dh /kkjk&33 ¼lhŒ½ o ou laj{k.k vf/kfu;e 1980 dh /kkjk&2 dk mYya?ku gS o ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; ds vkns'k fnukad 12-12-1996 dh vogsyuk gSA**

5. The Trial Court took cognizance against the applicant on 15.09.2006 under the aforementioned sections and on non-appearance non-bailable warrant was issued. Therefore, the applicant filed the present application for quashing of the entire proceedings of the case.

6. While entertaining the present application on 3.12.2010, this Court passed the following order:-

"Heard Sri Pavan Kishore, learned counsel for the applicants and learned A.G.A. for the State-respondent.

The present 482 Petition has been filed for quashing of the proceedings of Case No. 4615 of 2006, State vs. Raghunath and Others under section 33(c) of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 pending before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate 1st, Shahjahanpur.

It is contended by learned counsel for the applicants that the maximum sentence for the offence under section 33 (c) of Indian Forest Act, 1927 is six months and maximum sentence for the offence under section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is fifteen days and it is thus contended that the proceedings are barred under the provision of Section 468(2)(b) of Criminal Procedure Code.

Issue notice to opposite party no. 2 returnable within four weeks. Steps be taken within a week.

Learned A.G.A. prays for and is granted four weeks' time for filing counter affidavit. Opposite party no. 2 may also file counter affidavit within the same period. As prayed by learned counsel for the applicant, two weeks' time thereafter, is granted for filing rejoinder affidavit.

List after expiry of aforesaid period before appropriate Court. Till the next date of listing, no coercive action shall be taken against the applicant pursuant to the aforesaid c