Section 52: Penalty for counterfeiting marks on trees and timber and for altering boundary marks

Whoever, with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person, or to cause wrongful gain as defined in the Indian Penal Code-

(a) knowingly counterfeits upon any timber or standing tree, a mark used by any forest officer to indicate that such timber or tree is the property of the Central or State Government or of some person, or that it may lawfully be cut or removed by some person, or

(b) unlawfully affixes to any timber or standing tree, a mark used by any forest officer, or

(c) alters, defaces or obliterates any such mark placed on any timber or standing tree by or under the authority of any forest officer, or

(d) alters, moves, destroys or defaces any boundary mark of any forest or any land to which any provisions of this Act apply.

¹ [shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to five years and with fine which shall not be less than twenty thousand rupees].