PONNAMBALAM Vs. RANGE-TALUK CHINNAMANUR FOREST

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C has been filed seeking to quash the private complaint filed by the District Forest Officer, Theni, against the petitioners for the alleged offences said to have been committed by them punishable under Section 4(2) of the Tamil Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955 and Section 3(1-A) of the said Act.

(2.) ACCORDING to the learned counsel for the petitioners, this complaint has not been lodged by the Committee as required under section 11 of the said Act and therefore, the same has to be quashed.

(3.) THE term Committee has been defined under Section 2(a) of the Act which says, "Committee means any Committee constituted under section 2-A and having jurisdiction". THE learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) has produced an order dated 12.04.2006 of the District Collector in ROC No.Y1.8797/96, wherein it is stated that the District Collector, being the Chairman of the Committee has authorised the District Forest Officer to file a private complaint.