The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Forest Act, 1882 which provides for the protection and management of forests is in force in the Andhra Area of the State. The corresponding Act in force in the Telangana Area is the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Forest Act, 1355 Fasli. With a view to secure uniformity of laws throughout the State, the Government have decided to enact a unified law on the subject applicable to the whole of the State having due regard to the recommendations of the State Law Commission in this behalf.The Bill seeks to give effect to the above decision.[Vide Bill No. 7 of 1966, Published in the A.P. Gazette (EO) Part IV A, dated : 5th July, 1966]A.P. FOREST AMENDMENT ACT, 17 OF 1976. At present, under section 45 of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Act, 1967, until a court convicting a person for a forest offence orders confiscation of the timber or forest produce in respect of which the offence was committed and any tools, boat, vehicle other than a cart drawn by animals, vessel

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S.1 Short title, extent and commencement

S.2 Definitions

S.3 Power to reserve forest

S.4 Notification by Government

S.5 Suits barred

S.6 Proclamation by Forest Settlement Officer

S.7 Bar of accrual of forest rights and prohibition of clearings

S.8 Enquiry by Forest Settlement Officer

S.9 Powers of Forest Settlement Officer

S.10 Claims to Certain rights

S.11 Claims to rights of way, etc

S.12 Compensation for rights

S.13 Appeals from the orders of Forest Settlement Officer

S.14 Appointment of pleader

S.15 Notification declaring Forest reserved

S.16 Extinction of rights not claimed

S.17 No right acquired over reserved forest except as herein provided

S.18 Rights continued under section 11 not to be alienated without sanction

S.19 Power to stop ways and water courses in reserved forests

S.20 Penalties for trespass of damage in reserved forest and acts prohibited in such forests

S.21 Suspension of rights in reserved forests

S.22 Persons bound to assist forest officer and police officer

S.23 Power to declare reserved forest as no longer reserved

S.24 Protected forests

S.25 Power to close forest against pasture

S.26 Power to issue notification reserving trees, etc

S.27 Power to make rules

S.28 Power to declare protected forest to cease to be protected forest

S.28-A Definitions

S.28-B Preservation of private forests

S.28-C Appeals

S.28-D Power to Prohibit or Regulate Certain Acts

S.28-E Penalties

S.28-F Bar of Suits

S.28-G Power to make Rules

S.29 Power to make rules to regulate the transit and possession of timber and other forest produce

S.30 Government and forest officers not liable for damage to forest produce at depots and stations

S.31 Persons employed at depots and stations bound to aid in case of accident

S.32 Possession of sandalwood under licence or mark

S.33 Forms and conditions of licence

S.34 Power to cancel or suspend licence

S.35 Appeal

S.37 Certain kinds of timber to be deemed property of Government until title thereto is proved and may be collected accordingly

S.39 Procedure on the presentation of claim to such timber

S.40 Disposal of unclaimed timber

S.41 Government and their officers not liable for damage to timber collected under section 37

S.42 Payment to be made by claimant before timber is delivered to him

S.43 Power to make rules and prescribe penalty for contravention thereof

S.44 Seizure of property liable to confiscation and procedure thereupon

S.45 Timber, forest produce, tools. etc., when liable to confiscation

S.46 Disposal on conclusion of trial for forest offence of timber or forest produce in respect of which it was committed

S.47 Procedure when offender is not known or cannot be found

S.48 Procedure in regard to perishable property seized under Section 44

S.49 Appeal from orders under section 45, Section 46 or Section 47

S.50 Property when to vest in Government

S.51 Saving of power to release, property seized

S.52 Penalty for counterfeiting marks on trees and timber and for altering boundary marks

S.53 Power to arrest without warrant

S.54 Power to release on bond a person arrested

S.55 Punishment of wrongful seizure or arrest

S.56 Power to prevent commission of offence

S.57 Power to try offences summarily

S.58 Operation of other laws not barred

S.58 A Order of confiscation not to bar imposition of other penalty

S.59 Power to compound offences

S.60 Presumption that timber or forest produce belongs to the Central or State Government

S.61 Cattle Trespass Act, 1871 to apply

S.62 Government may invest forest officers with certain powers

S.63 Forest Officers deemed public servants

S.64 Powers of entry and inspection

S.65 Indemnity for acts done in good faith

S.66 Revision

S.67 Power of Government to exempt any area from the provisions of the Act

S.68 Power of Government to make rules

S.69 Government may delegate powers

S.70 Recovery of money due to Government

S.71 Land required under this Act to be deemed to be deemed to beneeded for public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894

S.72 Repeal

S.38 Notice to claimants to drift timber

S.36 Penalties