Do the forest offenders have to be compulsorily prosecuted?
Ans : Although the majority of the forest offences are non bailable as per section 64 A, there are provisions of summary trial under section 67 in the court of Judicial Magistrate (Ist class) as well as the compounding of offences under section 68. At present the Forest officers of the rank of Conservator of Forests, Dy. Conservator of Forests and Assistant Conservator of Forests are empowered to accept from an offender, the payment of a sum of money by way of compensation for the damage and compound the offence.
