RAVI KUMAR PATEL Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is aggrieved by the order dated 11.04.2014 (Annexure- 3) passed by the Authorized Officer cum Divisional Forest Officer, Rohtas, Sasaram, in Confiscation Case No.98 of 2013, as well as order dated 31.07.2015 (Annexure-4) passed by the appellate authority i.e. District Magistrate, Rohtas at Sasaram, in Forest Confiscation Appeal No.33 of 2014 and order dated 21.09.2016 (Annexure-5) passed by the revisional authority Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and Forest, Govt. of Bihar, Patna, in Forest Revision Case No.39 of 2015.

(2.) The confiscation authority has directed to confiscate the vehicle of the petitioner bearing registration No. UP 65 F 1655 under Section 52(3) of the Forest Act.

(3.) Counsel for the petitioner submits that vehicle was not intercepted in protected forest area, rather, it was seized on AraSasaram Road near Manik Petrol Pump. He further submits that as per seizure list truck was found loaded with stone metals (Patiya), which is not the forest produce. It has further been submitted that valid Challan was produced but the same was not accepted by the Forest Officer without making any verification of the Challan.