The Forest Department has given its tree officers cognizable powers to book people who cut trees without permission.
Tree officers will have powers equivalent to those of a police officer to register cases, says a notification issued on November 30.
Earlier, tree officers could not take any action against people who cut trees without permission, said Brijesh Kumar Dixit, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Resource Management. The notification says, "The tree officers appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, may exercise powers conferred upon him as an officer in-charge of police station by the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (sic)."
Dixit said that tree officers could even investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and drag offenders to court. Earlier, the cases filed by tree officers had no legal backing, leading to their failure in prosecuting tree cutters in most of the cases.
Tree officers will have powers equivalent to those of a police officer to register cases, says a notification issued on November 30.
Earlier, tree officers could not take any action against people who cut trees without permission, said Brijesh Kumar Dixit, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Resource Management. The notification says, "The tree officers appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, may exercise powers conferred upon him as an officer in-charge of police station by the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (sic)."
Dixit said that tree officers could even investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and drag offenders to court. Earlier, the cases filed by tree officers had no legal backing, leading to their failure in prosecuting tree cutters in most of the cases.
The Forest Department has given its tree officers cognizable powers to book people who cut trees without permission.
Tree officers will have powers equivalent to those of a police officer to register cases, says a notification issued on November 30.
Earlier, tree officers could not take any action against people who cut trees without permission, said Brijesh Kumar Dixit, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Resource Management. The notification says, "The tree officers appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, may exercise powers conferred upon him as an officer in-charge of police station by the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (sic).”
Dixit said that tree officers could even investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and drag offenders to court. Earlier, the cases filed by tree officers had no legal backing, leading to their failure in prosecuting tree cutters in most of the cases.
Tree officers will have powers equivalent to those of a police officer to register cases, says a notification issued on November 30.
Earlier, tree officers could not take any action against people who cut trees without permission, said Brijesh Kumar Dixit, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Resource Management. The notification says, "The tree officers appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, may exercise powers conferred upon him as an officer in-charge of police station by the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (sic).”
Dixit said that tree officers could even investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and drag offenders to court. Earlier, the cases filed by tree officers had no legal backing, leading to their failure in prosecuting tree cutters in most of the cases.