(1) , Any officer referred to in clause (a), (b), (c), or
(d) of sub-section (1) of section 3 or any police-officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector of Police may, if he has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has committed an offence under this Act,—
(a) require such person to produce for his inspection, any animal or carcase thereof, or any trophy in his possession, or any licence, permit or business certificate issued to him under this Act ;
(b) stop, enter and search any vehicle or vessel in the occupation of any person and open and search any package or other thing in his possession;
seize any animal or carcase thereof, or any trophy or any weapon, instrument, vehicle or vessel, if there is reasonable ground for believing that it has been procured or used in committing such offence;
(d) arrest any person against whom reasonable suspicion exists of having committed such offence.
(2) Any officer arresting a person under clause (d) of subsection (1) may release him on his executing a bond in the prescribed form to appear if and when so required before a Magistrate having jurisdiction in the case or before the officer-in-charge of the nearest police-station.
(3) Where a person arrested under clause (d) of sub-section
(1) is not released under sub-section (2), the officer arresting him shall forthwith take and produce him to the officer-incharge of the nearest police-station, who shall deal with him according to law.
(4) Any officer making any seizure under clause (c) of subsection (1) shall forthwith take and produce the objects seized to the officer-in-charge of the nearest police-station, who shall deal with them according to law.
Compound-'; 21. Notwithstawling anything contained in the foregoing ing o ences.
f sections of this chapter, where a person is alleged to have off r;ommitted an offence under this' Act, an officer referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) of sub-section (1) of section 3, may, in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed, accept from such person, by way of composition of such offence, a sum not exceeding Rs.200, as may be .ktermi-ned by him.
Upon payment of such sum within such period as may be prescribed, no proceedings shall be commenced against such person and any proceedings already started shall not be further proceeded with.
(a) •• The West Bengal Wild Life Preservation Act, 1950. 9 XXV of 1959.]
(Chapter 17 11.—Miscellaneons.—Sections 22-27.)
CHAPTER VII.
Miscellaneous.
22. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to apply to Killing Cr the killing or wounding in good faith of any animal by any oun ding in defence w person in defence of himself or any other person or of any of p ppeerrs toyn or r o.
property.
23. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to affect the Act VI of 1879, Elephants' Preservation Act, 1579, as amended in its applica- Ben. Act V of 1932 tion to West Bengal or the Bengal Rhinoceros Preservation and Ben.
of 1t 9I3TII2 I Act, 1932, and those Acts shall continue to apply as if this not Act had not come into force. affected.
24L Save as otherwise provided in the Constitution of Bar of India, no court shall have jurisdiction in any matter relat- iurisdic.
ing to licences, permits or business certificates or compensa- Lion.
tion under this Act.
25. No suit, prosecution or legal proceeding shall lie Indem.
against any person for anything in good faith done or intend- nits.
ed to be done under this Act or the rules made thereunder.
Act VI of 1879.
Ben. Act VIII of
1932.