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Section32
The Indian Forest Act, 1927

Power to make rules for protected forests

In force From 21 Sep 1927 Act 16 of 1927 As on 19 Oct 2026

Act 16 of 1927 Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change Enacted 21 Sep 1927 In force 21 Sep 1927 Cited by 2 provisions Instruments 20

Section 32 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 deals with power to make rules for protected forests. The [State Government] may make rules to regulate the following matters, namely:-- (a) the cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber, and the collection, manufacture and removal of forest-produce, from protected forests; The Act came into force on 21 Sep 1927.

The 1[State Government] may make rules to regulate the following matters, namely:--

(a) the cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber, and the collection, manufacture and removal of forest-produce, from protected forests;

(b) the granting of licenses to the inhabitants of towns and villages in the vicinity of protected forests to take trees, timber or other forest-produce for their own use, and the production and return of such licenses by such persons;

(c) the granting of licenses to persons felling or removing trees or timber or other forest-produce from such forests for the purposes of trade, and the production and return of such licenses by such persons;

(d) the payments, if any, to be made by the persons mentioned in clauses (b) and (c) for permission to cut such trees, or to collect and remove such timber or other forest-produce;

(e) the other payments, if any, to be made by them in respect of such trees, timber and produce, and the places where such payment shall be made;

(f) the examination of forest-produce passing out of such forests;

(g) the clearing and breaking up of land for cultivation or other purposes in such forests;

(h) the protection from fire of timber laying in such forests and of trees reserved under section 30;

(i) the cutting of grass and pasturing of cattle in such forests;

(j) hunting, shooting, fishing, poisoning water and setting traps or snares in such forests, and the killing or catching of elephants in such forests in areas in which the Elephants Preservation Act, 1879 (6 of 1879), is not in force;

(k) the protection and management of any portion of a forest closed under section 30; and

(l) the exercise of rights referred to in section 29.

Section 32, 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

  1. s. 29 Protected forests
  2. s. 30 Power to issue notification reserving trees, etc

Referred to by 2

  1. s. 33 Penalties for acts in contravention of notification under section 30 or of rules under section 32
  2. s. 34 Nothing in this Chapter to prohibit acts done in certain cases

Made under this section, and citing it

11 instruments state 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 9 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 32

What does Section 32 of the Indian Forest Act deal with?

Section 32 of the Indian Forest Act is headed "Power to make rules for protected forests". The [State Government] may make rules to regulate the following matters, namely:-- (a) the cutting, sawing, conversion and removal of trees and timber, and the collection, manufacture and removal of forest-produce, from protected forests;

How do I find court cases under Section 32 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 32, section 32 Indian Forest Act 1927, section 32 of the Indian Forest Act. People searching for it also type indian forest act 32 33 and indian forest act 1927 section 32. 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 32 of the Indian Forest Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 29 (Protected forests), section 30 (Power to issue notification reserving trees, etc), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 11: most recently NO. S.O. 12/C.A. 16/1927/IS, 32/2023 (2023), then No. S.O S.O. 37/C.A.16/1927/S.29/2023 (2023), and 9 more.

When did Section 32 of the Indian Forest Act come into force?

Section 32 of the Indian Forest Act, cited as Indian Forest Act 1927 32, 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

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 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.