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Judgment
This appeal is directed against the order of the learned single Judge dated 25-2-1999 made in W.P. No. 3648 of 1997.
2.1. Brief facts of the case, necessary for disposal of this appeal are as under :
The first respondent is the registered owner of Tata Benz Lorry bearing Registration No. TN-38-Z-0327. On 14-9-1996 at 11.00 a.m., the
Forest Officers intercepted the lorry near Bhavani Siriyampalayam check post and found that a quantity of 100 Kgs. of Sandalwood was being
transported. A show cause notice, in compliance of Section 49-B of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, was issued to the owner of the lorry as well as to
the persons who were travelling in the lorry calling for explanation on 26-9-1996. The first respondent submitted his written explanation on 4-10-
1996 denying knowledge of the alleged illicit transportation of Sandalwood. Not satisfied with the explanation offered by the first respondent, the
second respondent, by proceedings dated 4-10-1996, finding that it is not enough for the owner of the vehicle to say that he had no knowledge or
connivance, and that he and his agent, namely the Driver have not proved that they have taken reasonable and necessary precautions against such
use of the vehicle for the alleged offence, confiscated the said lorry, sandalwood weighing 100 Kgs. and other articles found in the lorry.
2.2. Even though an appeal was preferred against the said order dated 4-10-1996 before the third respondent herein, viz., the appellate authority,
by order dated 25-2-1997, confirmed the order of the second respondent.
2.3. Hence, the first respondent preferred W.P. No. 3648 of 1997 for issue of a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records of the
second and third respondents herein relating to their orders dated 4-10-1996 and 25-2-1997 respectively, to quash the same and to direct the
respondents 2 and 3 to release the vehicle of the first respondent seized on 14-9-1996.
2.4. The Forest Department resisted the writ petition placing reliance on Sections 49-A and 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act and also a
judgment of a Division Bench of this Court dated 4-12-1995 made in W.A. No. 1296 of 1995.
2.3. However, the learned single Judge, placing reliance on Assistant Forest Conservator and Others Vs. Sharad Ramchandra Kale, allowed the
writ petition by order dated 25-2-1999 and set aside the orders of the second and third respondents herein dated 4-10-1996 and 25-2-1997
respectively. Hence the present writ appeal by the Forest Department.
3.1. Mr. V. S. Sethuraman, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the Forest Department brought to our notice that the ratio laid
down in Assistant Forest Conservator and Others Vs. Sharad Ramchandra Kale, , referred supra, is not applicable to the facts and circumstances
of the present case, for the reason that in the said decision, the order of confiscation was set aside as the Forest Department relied upon Section
52 of the Indian Forest Act, a reading of which would clearly reveal that no liability is fastened on the owner of the vehicle to discharge his burden.
3.2. On the other hand, Mr. V. S. Sethuraman, learned Special Government Pleader, inviting our attention to Sections 49-A and 49-B of the
Tamilnadu Forest Act submits that under the provisions of the Tamilnadu Forest Act, the authorities concerned are empowered to confiscate any
tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing such offence, vide Section 49-A(1) of the Tamilnadu Forest Act, irrespective of
the fact whether or not a prosecution is instituted for the commission of such forest offence.
Per contra, Mr. Goutham, learned counsel for the first respondent submits that no criminal action was initiated against the first respondent, viz.,
the owner of the vehicle, and even though criminal action was initiated against the driver of the lorry, the same resulted in acquittal and therefore,
the confiscation is bad in law inasmuch as in his representation dated 4-10-1996, the first respondent had denied knowledge of the alleged
transportation of sandalwood.
We have given careful consideration to the submissions of both sides.
At this juncture it is apt to extract the relevant portions of Sections 49-A and 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act and Section 52 of the Indian
Forest Act, which read as under :
Section 49-A of the Tamilnadu Forest Act -- Confiscation by. forest officers in certain cases :
(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 any scheduled timber which is the property of the Government, the officer seizing the
property under Sub-section (1) of Section 41 shall, without any unreasonable delay, produce it together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats,
vehicles and cattle used in committing such offence, before an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Conservator of Forests authorised by the
Government in this behalf, by notification, in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette (hereinafter referred to as the authorised officer).
(2) Where the authorised officer himself seizes under Sub-section (1) of Section 41, any scheduled timber which is the property of the Government
or where any such properly is produced before the authorised officer under Sub-section (1) and he is satisfied that a forest offence has been
committed in respect of such property, such authorised officer may, whether or not a prosecution is instituted for the commission of such forest
offence, order confiscation of the property so seized together with all tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles and cattle used in committing such
offence.
(3) (a) Where the authorised officer after passing an order of confiscation under Sub-section (2) is of the opinion that it is expedient in the public
interest so to do, he may order the confiscated property or any part thereof to be sold by public auction.
(b) Where any confiscated property is sold as aforesaid, the proceed thereof after deduction of the expenses of any such auction or other
incidental expenses relating thereto shall, where the order of confiscation made under this section is set aside or annulled by an order u/s 49-C or
Section 49-D, be paid to the owner thereof or to the person from whom it was seized as may be specified in such order.
Section 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act -- issue of show cause notice before confiscation u/s 49-A :--
(1) No order confiscating any scheduled timber, or tools, ropes, chains, boats, vehicles or cattle shall be made u/s 49-A except after notice in
writing to the person from whom it is seized informing him of the grounds on which it is proposed to confiscate it and considering his objections if
any :
Provided that no order confiscating a motor vehicle shall be made except after giving 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.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of Sub-section (1) no order confiscating any tool, rope, chain, boat, vehicle or cattle shall be made u/s 49-
A if the owner of the tool, rope, chain, boat, vehicle or cattle proves to the satisfaction of the authorised officer that it was used in carrying
scheduled timber without the knowledge or connivance of the owner himself, his agent, if any, and the person in charge of the tool, rope, chain,
boat, vehicle or cattle and that each of them had taken all reasonable and necessary precautions against such use.
Section 52 of the Indian Forest Act --Seizure of property liable to confiscation :
(1) When there is reason to believe that a forest offence has been committed in respect of any forest produce, such produce, together with all
tools, boats, carts or cattle used in committing any such offence, may be seized by any Forest Officer or Police Officer.
(2) Every officer seizing any property under this section shall place on such property a mark indicating that the same has been so seized, and shall,
as soon as may be, make a report of such seizure to the Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the offence on account of which the seizure has been
made.
Provided that, when the forest-produce with respect to which such offence is believed to have been committed is the property of Government, and
the offender is unknown, it shall be sufficient if the officer makes, as soon as may be, a report of the circumstances to his official superior.
7.1. A bare reading of Section 52 of the Indian Forest Act referred to above and Sections 49-A and 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act, shows
that they are quite distinct in their parameters.
7.2. Section 49-A of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882, which was introduced by Tamil Nadu Act, 44 of 1992, empowers the Authorised Forest
Officer to confiscate vehicle used in the commission of forest offence and Section 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act relates to the procedure to be
followed. Section 49-B(1) of the Tamilnadu Forest Act envisages notice to the person from whom the vehicle has been seized and the procedure
lays down issuance of notice to the registered owner of the vehicle. Section 49-B(2) of the Tamilnadu Forest Act envisages that no order of
confiscation should be passed if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Authorised Officer that the vehicle was used in carrying scheduled timber
without the knowledge and connivance of the owner himself, his agent, if any and the person in charge of the vehicle and further each of them had
taken all reasonable and necessary precautions against such use.
7-3. A comparison of Section 52 of the Indian Forest Act and Sections 49-A and 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act, makes it clear that while a
burden is fastened on the owner of the vehicle to prove that he had no knowledge of using the vehicle for the impugned forest offence and also to
prove that he, his agent, if any, and the person in charge of the vehicle have taken all reasonable and necessary precautions against such use of the
vehicle for committing the alleged forest offence, no such liability is fastened on the owner of the vehicle to discharge his burden u/s 52 of the Indian
Forest Act.
The procedures contained under Sections 49-A and 49-B of the Tamilnadu Forest Act have been construed by a Division Bench of this Court
in Writ Appeal No. 1296/ 1995 dated 4-12-1995. In the said case, the Forest Officer had passed an order of confiscation which was set aside by
the Appellate Authority on the ground that at the time of commission of the offence, the owner of the vehicle was in the hospital attending to his son
and was not aware of the illegal transportation of timber. After referring the provisions contained, it was observed thus :--
The latter portion of the proviso places burden upon the owner of the vehicle. It is not enough for the owner of the vehicle to prove that the
vehicle was used without his knowledge or connivance. He is also further required to prove that the agent or the driver under whose possession,
the vehicle was being kept, had taken all reasonable and necessary precautions against such use. In the instant case, it is not in dispute that the
vehicle was seized, when it was transporting illegally sandalwood. In such cases the aforesaid proviso comes into operation. The burden shifts on
the owner of the vehicle to prove by convincing evidence that not only he had no knowledge of or had not connived with the use of the vehicle for
illegal purpose, but his agent or the person in charge of the vehicle had taken all the reasonable and necessary precautions against such use. The
owner has not adduced any evidence to show that the driver of the vehicle took necessary and reasonable precautions to prevent the use of the
vehicle for illegal transporting the sandalwood. The fact that the driver was in the custody of the Police, did not in any way prevent the owner to
examine him and to adduce any other evidence to prove that reasonable and necessary precautions were taken by the person in charge of the
vehicle. The object of the proviso is to ensure that the owner of the vehicle does not escape by merely pointing out that he had no knowledge. He
being the owner of the vehicle, it is his responsibility to ensure that not only he himself had taken care to see that the vehicle was not used for any
unauthorised purpose, but also the person placed in charge of the vehicle did not use the vehicle or allowed it to be used or connived at use for
such purpose. This provision of law requires to be scrupulously observed in order to prevent the smuggling of sandalwood. Therefore, we are of
the view that the Prescribed Authority and the learned single Judge have not taken into consideration the true and correct scope and ambit of the
proviso to Section 49-B of the Act. That being so, the order of the Prescribed Authority cannot be sustained. Consequently, the order of the single
Judge has to be set aside.
In the instant case, the second respondent as well as the third respondent, have concurrently held that the first respondent, viz., the owner of the
vehicle, had not discharged his burden to prove by convincing evidence that not only he had no knowledge of or had not connived with the use of
the vehicle for illegal purpose, but his agent or the person in charge of the vehicle had also taken all the reasonable and necessary precautions
against such use. The owner has not adduced any evidence to show that the driver of the vehicle took necessary and reasonable precautions to
prevent the use of the vehicle for illegally transporting the sandalwood. Hence, finding it difficult to follow the decision in Assistant Forest
Conservator and Others Vs. Sharad Ramchandra Kale, referred supra, and interfere with the orders of the second and third respondent dated 4-
10-1996 and 25-2-1997 respectively, we allow this writ appeal and set aside the order of the learned single Judge dated 25-2-1999 made in
W.P. No. 3648 of 1997.
In the result, this writ appeal is allowed. No costs.