Indian Forest Act, 1927
39. Power
to impose duty on timber and other forest-produce. –
(1) The (7)Central Government may
levy a duty in such manner, at such places and at such rates as it may declare
by notification in the Official Gazette on all timber or other forest produce-
a) which is produced in
[the
territories to which this Act extends], and in respect of which the Government
has any right;
b) which is brought from any place outside 8[the territories to
which this Act extends].
(9) [***]
(2) In every case in which such duty is
directed to be levied ad valorem the 7[Central
Government] may fix by like notification the value on which such duty shall be
assessed.
(3) All duties on timber or other
forest-produce which, at the time when this Act comes into force in any
territory, are levied therein under the authority of the State Government,
shall be deemed to be and to have been duly levied under the provisions of this
Act.(10)[(4) Notwithstanding anything in this section, the State
Government may, until provision to the contrary is made by (11)[Parliament]
continue to levy any duty which it was lawfully levying before the commencement(12)
of (13)[the Constitution], under this section as then in force.
Provided that nothing in this
sub-section authorizes the levy of any duty which as between timber or other
forest-produce of the State and similar produce of the locality outside the
State, discriminates in favor of the former, or which, in the case of timber or
other forest-produce of localities outside the State, discriminates between
timber or other forest-produce of one locality and similar timber or other
forest-produce of another locality.