The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal, seeking an amendment to the Indian Forest Act (IFA) that aims to put an end to harassment of tribals for petty cases. The proposal sought amendment to Section 68 of IFA, 1927, which deals with the power of forest officials to compound offences.
The proposed amendment aims to increase the financial limit of the power to compound a forest offence up to an upper limit of Rs 10,000. The money accepted as compensation by forest officials for compounding a forest offence was only Rs 50, which has been increased to Rs 10,000. This would end the system of foisting of cases on tribals who use forests to eke out their livelihood. TNN