Section 2 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 – “Interpretation clause”

2. Interpretation clause. :- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, —

(1) “cattle” includes elephants, camels, buffaloes, horses, mares, geldings, ponies, colts, fillies, mules, asses, pigs, rams, ewes, sheep, lambs, goats and kids;

(2) “Forest-officer” means any person whom ¹*** the ²[State Government] or any officer empowered by ¹*** the ²[State Government] in this behalf, may appoint to carry out all or any of the purposes of this Act or to do anything required by this Act or any rule made thereunder to be done by a Forest-officer;

(3) “forest-offence” means an offence punishable under this Act or under any rule made thereunder;

(4) “forest-produce” includes—
(a) the following whether found in, or brought from, a forest or not, that is to say:—
timber, charcoal, caoutchouc, catechu, wood-oil, resin, natural varnish, bark, lac, mahua flowers, mahua seeds ³[, kuth] and myrabolams, and
(b) the following when found in, or brought from, a forest, that is to say:—
(i) trees and leaves, flowers and fruits, and all other parts or produce not hereinbefore mentioned, of trees,
(ii) plants not being trees (including grass, creepers, reeds and moss), and all parts or produce of such plants,
(iii) wild animals and skins, tusks, horns, bones, silk, cocoons, honey and wax, and all other parts or produce of animals, and
(iv) peat, surface soil, rock, and minerals (including limestone, laterite, mineral oils, and all products of mines or quarries);

⁴(4A) “owner” includes a Court of Wards in respect of property under the superintendence or charge of such Court;

(5) “river” includes any stream, canal, creek or other channels, natural or artificial;

(6) “timber” includes trees when they have fallen or have been felled, and all wood whether cut up or fashioned or hollowed out for any purpose or not; and

(7) “tree” includes palms, ⁵***, stumps, brush-wood and canes.

1. The words “the G.G. in C. or” rep. by the A.O. 1937.
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial Government”.
3. Ins. by Act 26 of 1930, s. 2.
4. Ins. by Act 3 of 1933, s. 2.
5. The word “bamboos” omitted by Act 5 of 2018, s. 2 (w.e.f 23-11-2017).