A controversy has arisen in the wake of officials of the Palamu Tiger Reserve searching houses for seizing illegal timbers stored there, said sources. For a house search, a warrant is needed and the police are obligated to show it but the tiger reserve officials show no such document and enter any house or private premises that they are suspicious of and conduct a search there.
Recently, three house were searched by the tiger reserve officials for illegal timber in the core area and illicit timber was seized in large bulk. Truckload of timber all illegally possessed has been seized by PTR officials. The DFO Core Palamu Tiger Reserve Premjit Anand confirmed searching of houses for illegal timbers where officials have genuine doubts of illegal timber being kept there. Anand said no house search has ever been done to harass any occupant or inmate of the house. “Most of the house raids are conducted in my presence,” he said Search is where the officials have a definite information of illegal timber he reiterated.
Asked if tiger reserve officials have any right to search a house or a premise without the mandatory search warrant the DFO Core said under section 50 of The Wildlife Protection Act 1972, a forest officer has a right to enter upon or search any premise land, vehicle or vessel in the occupation of such person and open and search any bag or other things in his possession. The DFo Core added that section 52 of Indian Forest Act enjoins upon the same right to forest officer to search premise or vehicle for things prohibited under forest act. The power of entry search and detention lies with the forest officer he reminded.
Asked what steps are taken to stop its misuse or abuse the DFO Core said: “The tiger reserve officials act with utmost restraint and our prime aim and objective is to make house people aware that jungles are for them and any plundering for few thousands of rupees by way of cutting timber there will finally ruin them.” Anand said occupants of houses searched so far have not shown any anger or resistance at all knowing full well that they are on wrong foot.