(1) [The Government or authorised officer or agent shall be bound to purchase the minor forest produce offered for sale at the depot during the hours of business in the raw form, from all the growers, registered under section 10 at the price fixed under section 7:]
Provided that it shall be open to the Government or authorised officer or agent to refuse to purchase any minor forest produce which, in the opinion of the Government or authorised officer or agent, as the case may be, is not fit for the purpose of manufacture of finished goods using such produce or for any other commercial purpose.
(2) Any person aggrieved by the refusal to purchase the minor forest produce by an authorised officer or agent under the proviso to sub-section (1) may, within fifteen days therefrom, prefer an appeal to the Divisional Forest Officer, or such other officer as may be empowered by the Government in this behalf, having jurisdiction over the unit.
(3) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (2), the Divisional Forest Officer or other officer, as the case may be, shall hold an inquiry, on the spot or at any convenient place, in the prescribed manner and after hearing the parties concerned or their representative, shall pass such order as he may deem fit, and in case he finds the refusal to purchase the minor forest produce to be improper, he may,-
(a) where he considers the minor forest produce in question still suitable for the manufacture of finished goods or for any other commercial purpose, direct the authorised officer or agent, as the case may be, to purchase the same at the price fixed, for it and may also award to the person aggrieved such further compensation not exceeding twenty per centum of the price of the produce payable to him, as he may deem fit;
(b) where he considers that the minor forest produce in question has since become unsuitable for manufacture of finished goods or for any other commercial purpose, direct the payment to the person aggrieved of any amount not less than the price of such minor forest produce payable to him under sub-section (1) and such further compensation not exceeding twenty per centum of such price, as he may deem fit, by way of damages for the loss suffered by such person.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as to debar the appropriation of any minor forest produce offered for sale, if the Government or authorised officer or agent has reason to believe that such produce appertains to forest or lands belonging to or under the control of the Government, and paying only such collection charges, if any, as the Government may, from time to time, determine:
Provided that in the case of any dispute in the matter, the Divisional Forest Officer or other officer, as the case may be, shall hear and dispose of the same in the manner provided in sub-section (3).
(5) Any person aggrieved by the decision referred to in the proviso to sub-section (4) may, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such decision, prefer an appeal to the Government; and the decision of the Government on such appeal shall be final.