Jammu and Kashmir Forest (Protection) Force Act, 2001
No: 6 Dated: Apr, 12 2001
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR FOREST (PROTECTION) FORCE ACT, 2001
(Act No. VI of 2001)
An Act to provide for the constitution of Forest Protection Force for better protection and security of the forest property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Be it enacted by the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature in the Fifty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:
1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Forest (Protection) Force Act, 2001.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Jammu and Kashmir State.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as may be specified by notification in the Jammu and Kashmir Government Gazette.
2. Definitions. - In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) "Director" means the Director of the Force appointed under sub-section (1) of section 4;
(b) "Force" means the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Protection Force constituted under section 3;
(c) "Force Custody" means the arrest or confinement of a Member of the Force in accordance with rules made under this Act;
(d) Forest property includes, —
(i) "demarcated forest", "undemarcated forest", "village forests", "forest produce" as defined in the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act, Samvat, 1987;
(ii) "Government property" as defined in the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978;
(iii) any other movable or immovable property in which the Forest Department or other related organizations have any interest;
(e) "Government" means the Government of Jammu and Kashmir;
(f) "Member of the Force" includes every person appointed or deputed to the Force;
(g) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(h) words and expressions used but not defined in this Act, shall have the meaning as assigned to them in the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 or the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act, Samvat 1987.
3. Constitution of the Force. - (1) There shall be an armed force of the State called the Forest Protection Force for better protection and security of the forest property.
(2) The Force shall be the Department of the Government on the pattern of Police Department in the State.
(3) The Force shall be constituted in such manner and shall consist of such ranks and number of members as may be prescribed.
(4) Every Member of the Force shall be entitled to such pay and other allowances as may be prescribed.
4. Appointment of Officers and other ranks of the Force. - The Government may depute, from the Forest Department, persons to be the Director, the Joint Directors and Deputy Directors of the Force and appoint or cause to be appointed persons to other ranks of the Force.
5. Certificates to Members of the Force. - (1) Every Member of the Force shall receive a certificate in the form specified in the Schedule, under the seal of the Director or such other officer as the Director may specify in this behalf, by virtue of which the person holding such certificate shall be vested with the powers and privileges of a Member of the Force.
(2) Such certificate shall cease to have effect whenever the person named in it ceases for any reason to be a Member of the Force.