Acts prohibited in such forests
Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 deals with acts prohibited in such forests. Any person who- (a) makes any fresh clearing prohibited by section 5, or (b) sets fire to a reserved forest, or, in contravention of any rules made by the 1State Government in this behalf, kindles any fire, or leaves any fire burning, in such manner as to endanger such a forest; The Act came into force on 21 Sep 1927.
(1) Any person who-
(a) makes any fresh clearing prohibited by section 5, or
(b) sets fire to a reserved forest, or, in contravention of any rules made by the 1State Government in this behalf, kindles any fire, or leaves any fire burning, in such manner as to endanger such a forest; or who, in a reserved forest
(c) kindles, keeps or carries any fire except at such seasons as the Forest-officer may notify in this behalf;
2* * * *
(f) fells, girdles, lops, taps or burns any tree or strips off the bark or leaves from, or otherwise damages, the same;
(g) quarries stone, burns lime or charcoal, or collects, subjects to any manufacturing process, orremoves, any forest-produce;
(h) clears or breaks up any land for cultivation or any other purpose;
(i) in contravention of any rules made in this behalf by the 1State Government hunts, shoots, fishes, poisons water or sets traps or snares; or
(j) in any area in which the Elephants Preservation Act, 1879 (6 of 1879), is not in force, kills or catches elephants in contravention of any rules so made;
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting Court may direct to be paid.
3(1A) Any person who, in a reserved forest
(a) trespasses or pastures cattle, or permits cattle to trespass shall be liable to penalty which may extend to five hundred rupees, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as determined by a Forest-officer empowered under section 68;
(b) causes any damage by negligence in felling any tree or cutting or dragging any timber shall be liable to penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as determined by a Forest-officer empowered under section 68.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit
(a) any act done by permission in writing of the Forest-officer, or under any rule made by the 1State Government; or
(b) the exercise of any right continued under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 15, or created by grant or contract in writing made by or on behalf of the Government under section 23.
(3) Whenever fire is caused wilfully or by gross negligence in a reserved forest, the 1State Government may (notwithstanding that any penalty has been inflicted under this section) direct that in such forest or any portion thereof the exercise of all rights of pasture or to forest-produce shall be suspended for such period as it thinks fit.
Section 26, The Indian Forest Act, 1927 (Act 16 of 1927).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… The allegation contained therein is that the petitioner had encroached upon the said khasra numbers which tantamount to violation under Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1977 as also Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The notice apart from directing vacation, also threatens to demolish the property existing thereon. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the predecessor-in-interest of the petitioner has been in occupation …
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… Division in respect of khasra numbers 1424 and 1430 village Asola, Tehsil Saket, New Delhi which is claimed to be a reserved forest land as per the Notification dated 24.05.1994 and 02.04.1996. It is also alleged in the notice that the petitioners have encroached upon the said khasra numbers which is in violation of Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Section 2 of Forest (Conversation) Act, 1980. Also by way of the said notice, the petitioners have been asked to remove all encroachment on the said khasra numbers. 5. Learned counsel submits that the petitioners are owners of khasra numbers 1427(6-11), 1428(7-9),1431 MIN (1-0) …
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument states that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 26
What does Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act deal with?
Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act is headed "Acts prohibited in such forests". Any person who- (a) makes any fresh clearing prohibited by section 5, or (b) sets fire to a reserved forest, or, in contravention of any rules made by the 1State Government in this behalf, kindles any fire, or leaves any fire burning, in such manner as to endanger such a forest;
How do I find court cases under Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Indian Forest Act 1927 26, section 26 Indian Forest Act 1927, section 26 of the Indian Forest Act. People searching for it also type indian forest act 26 1 and indian forest act 1927 section 26. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 5 (Bar of accrual of forest-rights), section 15 (Exercise of rights admitted), section 23 (No right acquired over reserved forest, except as here provided), section 68 (Power to compound offences and impose penalties), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 4 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there is one: most recently THE GOA, DAMAN & DIU FOREST RULES 1964 (1927).
When did Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act come into force?
Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, cited as Indian Forest Act 1927 26, came into force on 21 Sep 1927, having been enacted on 21 Sep 1927. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 52. Seizure of property liable to confiscation4491 words
- 38. Protection of forests at request of owners2928 words
- 61. Saving of power to release property seized2876 words
- 82. Recovery of money due to Government2108 words
- 20. Notification declaring forest reserved1635 words
- 2. Interpretation clause1380 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.