Dr. Arijit Pasayat, J.— Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by a learned Single Judge of the Calcutta High Court in a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. By the impugned order, the learned Single Judge directed release of the vehicle which was seized and confiscated for an alleged violation of the provisions of the Forest Act, 1927 (in short “the Act”).
3. Background facts in a nutshell are as follows:
On 10-2-1999, certain forest officials noticed that a Maruti van was going at an unusually high speed. On suspicion, the Beat Officer concerned chased the vehicle in a jeep and was able to intercept the Maruti van by the side of reserve forest near Range Office at Bichabhanga. It was noted that the registration number of the vehicle was WB 72 9459. The Beat Officer found that the vehicle was loaded with hand-sawn sissoo timber. He found that four persons including the driver were travelling in the vehicle. The timber in question was not carrying any hammer marks and the driver of the vehicle could not produce any document in respect of the possession and transportation of the timber. Therefore, alleged illicit timber was seized and the driver and other passengers were arrested and forwarded to the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jalpaiguri.
4. A notice in terms of Section 8(1) of the West Bengal Forest Produce Transit Rules, 1959 (in short “the Transit Rules”) was issued to the driver as well as the owner of the vehicle. The Range Officer forwarded the case to the Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Division II, Jalpaiguri who is the authorised officer under Section 59-A of the Act as amended by Section 17 of the Forest (West Bengal Amendment) Act, 1988 (in short “the Amendment Act”). In terms of sub-section (3) of Section 59-A of the Act, action was held.
5. The vehicle was driven by Shri Rohini Roy who was arrested and the forest produce was seized. As required under Section 59-B of the Act, notice was issued and served on the owner of the vehicle to show cause as to why the vehicle in question should not be confiscated to the State of West Bengal as provided under Section 59-A of the Act. The owner in reply stated that a family friend had taken the vehicle for a marriage ceremony. The driver had without his permission and knowledge carried the articles which later on were seized by the forest officials. After receipt of the reply, the stand taken was verified and ultimately it was found that the vehicle was used for illicit procurement of timber. An appeal was preferred before the District Judge, Jalpaiguri who dismissed the appeal and confirmed the findings of the authorised officer. A writ petition was filed before the High Court.
6. Primary stand taken was that the owner had no knowledge about the commission of offence under the Act and, therefore, confiscation was illegal. The High Court inter alia observed as follows and directed release of the confiscated vehicle:
“It is settled law that unless the driver of the vehicle acted as an agent of the owner of the said vehicle and indulged in carrying forest produce illegally and that too with the knowledge and connivance of the owner neither the vehicle could be confiscated nor could the owner be prosecuted for such alleged offence.”
7. In support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellants submitted that the impugned order is not sustainable in law. The onus was on the owner of the vehicle to establish that he had no knowledge about the carrying of illegal timber. Additionally, the statement given by the owner was at great variance with the statement given by the driver and the other occupants of the vehicle at the time of seizure. There is no appearance on behalf of the respondent in spite of service of notice.
8. At this juncture, it will be relevant to quote Sections 59-A and 59-B of the Act as inserted by the Amendment Act. The provisions read as follows:
“59-A. Confiscation by Forest Officer of forest produce in the case of forest offence believed to have been committed.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Chapter or in any other law for the time being in force, where a forest offence is believed to have been committed in respect of the timber or other forest produce which is the property of the State Government, the Forest Officer or the police officer seizing the timber or other forest produce under sub-section (1) of Section 52 shall, without any unreasonable delay, produce the same, together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing the offence before an officer of a rank not inferior to that of an Assistant Conservator of Forest authorised by the State Government in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette (hereinafter referred to as the authorised officer).
(2) The State Government may for any local area, authorise one or more officers under sub-section (1).
(3) Where any timber or other forest produce which is the property of the State Government is produced before an authorised officer under sub-section (1) and the authorised officer is satisfied that a forest offence has been committed in respect of such property, he may, whether or not a prosecution is instituted for the commission of such offence, order confiscation of the property together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing the offence.
(4)(a) Where the authorised officer, after passing the order of confiscation of the property together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle as aforesaid under sub-section (3), is of opinion that it is expedient in the public interest so to do, he may order such property or any part thereof and such tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle to be sold by public auction.
(b) Where the order of confiscation of any property or tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle under sub-section (3) is set aside or annulled under Section 59-C or Section 59-D, the proceeds of sale by auction shall, after deduction of the expenses of auction and all other incidental expenses relating thereto, if any, be paid to the owner of such property or tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle or to the person from where the same was seized as may be specified in the order under Section 59-C or Section 59-D.
59-B. Issue of notice before confiscation.—(1) No order confiscating any property or tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle shall be made under Section 59-A except after giving a notice in writing to the owner of, or the person from whom, such property or tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle have been seized for showing cause as to why the same should not be confiscated and considering his objections, if any:
Provided that no order confiscating any motor vehicle shall be made except after giving a notice in writing to the registered owner thereof if, in the opinion of the authorised officer, it is practicable to do so and considering his objections, if any.
Explanation.—‘Motor vehicle’ shall have the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 (4 of 1939).
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), no order confiscating any tool, rope, chain, boat, vehicle or cattle shall be made under Section 59-A if the owner thereof proves to the satisfaction of the authorised officer that such tool, rope, chain, boat, vehicle or cattle was used in carrying the timber or other forest produce without the knowledge or connivance of the owner himself or his agent, if any, or the person in charge thereof and that each of them had taken all reasonable and necessary precautions against such use.”
9. A bare reading of sub-section (2) of Section 59-B makes the position clear that no order confiscating any tool, rope, chain, boat, vehicle or cattle shall be made under Section 59-A if the owner thereof proves to the satisfaction of the authorised officer that such tool, rope, chain, boat, vehicle or cattle was used in carrying the timber or other forest produce without the knowledge or connivance of the owner himself or his agent, if any, or the person in charge thereof and that each of them had taken all reasonable and necessary precautions against such use.
10. The language used is very clear. It is the owner who has to prove that the vehicle was used in carrying timber or other forest produce without his knowledge or connivance or that of his agent.
11. The requirement is mandatory that the owner has to prove that he had no knowledge or had not connived. It is a matter which is within his knowledge. Mere assertion without anything else will not suffice. There is another requirement that either he or his agent, if any, or the person in charge thereof had taken all reasonable and necessary precaution against such use. This aspect has to be established by the person concerned by sufficient material. As noted above, mere assertion in that regard could not be sufficient.
12. The Forest Officer and the appellate authority clearly noted that the owner failed to establish his alleged lack of knowledge or connivance or taking necessary precaution. The High Court came to an abrupt conclusion and held that without knowledge of the owner of the vehicle, the driver was carrying forest produce illegally. The High Court held that unless the driver of the vehicle acted as an agent of the owner of the said vehicle and indulged in carrying forest produce illegally and that too with the knowledge and connivance of the owner, neither the vehicle could be confiscated nor could the owner be prosecuted for such alleged offence.
13. Both the Forest Officer and the appellate authority categorically held that the lack of knowledge as asserted was not established. The High Court did not record any finding that all possible care had been taken to prevent such misuse.
14. The High Court has not even analysed the factual position and only concluded that the vehicle was being used for carrying illegal timber without the knowledge and connivance of the owner. It has not even referred to the materials which weighed with the Forest Officer and the first appellate authority to conclude that the onus in law on the owner has not been discharged.
15. In State Of Karnataka v. K. Krishnan . (2000) 7 SCC 80 it was inter alia noted as follows:
“6. Chapter VI of the Act makes provisions for control of timber and other forest produce in transit. The authorised officer has the power to seize any forest produce together with all tools, boats, vehicles or cattle or any other property used in connection with the commission of an offence in respect of any forest produce. An authorised officer has also the power to release the property seized under Section 62. All timber or forest produce, which is not the property of the Government and in respect of which a forest offence has been committed and all tools, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing any forest offence are liable to forfeiture by the State Government subject to the provisions of Section 71-G of the Act. Section 71-A authorises the Forest Officer to order confiscation of the seized property in certain cases. Any person aggrieved by an order passed under Section 71-A or Section 71-C has the right to file an appeal to the Sessions Judge having jurisdiction over the area in which the property to which the order relates has been seized.
7. Learned counsel appearing for the appellant State has submitted and we agree that the provisions of the Act are required to be strictly complied with and followed for the purposes of achieving the object for which the Act was enacted. Liberal approach in the matter with respect to the property seized, which is liable to confiscation, is uncalled for as the same is likely to frustrate the provisions of the Act. Before passing an order for releasing the forest produce or the property used in the commission of the forest offence, the authorised officer or the appellate authority has to specify the reasons which justify such release, apparently, prima facie excluding the possibility of such forest produce or the property being confiscated ultimately. Generally, therefore, any forest produce and the tools, boats, vehicles, cattle, etc., used in the commission of the forest offence, which are liable to forfeiture, should not be released. This, however, does not debar the officers and the authorities under the Act including the appellate authority from passing appropriate orders under the circumstances of each case but only after assigning valid reasons. The liberal approach in the matter would perpetuate the commission of more offences with respect to the forest and its produce which, if not protected, is surely to affect mother earth and the atmosphere surrounding it. The courts cannot shut their eyes and ignore their obligations indicated in the Act enacted for the purposes of protecting and safeguarding both the forests and their produce. The forests are not only the natural wealth of the country but also protector of human life by providing a clean and unpolluted atmosphere. We are of the considered view that when any vehicle is seized on the allegation that it was used for committing a forest offence, the same shall not normally be returned to a party till the culmination of all the proceedings in respect of such offence, including confiscatory proceedings, if any. Nonetheless, if for any exceptional reasons a court is inclined to release the vehicle during such pendency, furnishing a bank guarantee should be the minimum condition. No party shall be under the impression that release of vehicle would be possible on easier terms, when such vehicle is alleged to have been involved in commission of a forest offence. Any such easy release would tempt the forest offenders to repeat commission of such offences. Its casualty will be the forests as the same cannot be replenished for years to come.
8. The approach adopted both by the authorised officer and the High Court completely ignores the importance of the forests and the purpose of the object for which the Act was made. As the appellant State has not prayed for quashing the order of the authorised officer we refrain to deal with that even though we do not approve of it. We are, however, satisfied that the High Court had adopted a very casual approach while disposing of the petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Besides that the order impugned is contrary to law, we have our reservations with respect to the powers of the High Court under Section 482 CrPC in the matter which we do not express in this case.”
16. The position in law was again reiterated in State Of W.B v. Gopal Sarkar . (2002) 1 SCC 495. The High Court was not justified in setting aside the confiscation. But there is another aspect which needs to be noted. The vehicle in question was released pursuant to the High Court's order. Though the appeal is allowed, there is no point in directing restoration of the vehicle. We direct that a sum of Rs 20,000 shall be deposited by the respondent within three months from today so that the restoration of the vehicle shall not be necessary. The amount shall be deposited with the Forest Department concerned of the State of West Bengal. The appeal is allowed to the aforesaid extent. No costs.
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