Section 80: Management of forests the joint property of Government and other persons

(1) If the [Government] and any person be jointly interested in any forest or waste-land, or in the whole or any part of the produce thereof, the [State Government] may either—

(a) undertake the management of such forest, waste-land or produce, accounting to such person for his interest in the same; or

(b) issue such regulations for the management of the forest, waste-land or produce by the person so jointly interested as it deems necessary for the management thereof and the interests of all parties therein.

(2) When the [State Government] undertakes under clause (a) of sub-section (1) the management of any forest, waste-land or produce, it may, by notification in the4[Official Gazette], declare that any of the provisions contained in Chapters II and IV shall apply to such forest, waste-land or produce, and thereupon such provisions shall apply accordingly.

State amendments to this section

Uttar Pradesh

Insertion of new section 80-A in Act XIV of 1927—After section 80 of Indian Forest Act 1927, the following shall be added as a new section 80-A:

"80-A. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that any of the provisions of or under this Act, shall apply to all or any or any land on the banks of canals or the sides of roads which are the property, of the State Government or a local authority and thereupon such provisions shall apply accordingly."

[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act XVIII of 1951, s. 2]

Maharashtra.—

Insertion of new section 80—A in Act XVI of 1927.—After section 80 of the said act, the following section shall be inserted namely:—

"80-A. Power of Government to apply provisions of this Act to pertain lands of Government or local authority.—The State Government, may be notification in the Official Gazette, declare that any of the provisions of this act shall apply to all or any lands on the banks of canals or the sides of roads which are the property of the State Government or a local authority and thereupon such provisions shall apply to such lands accordingly."

[Vide Bombay Act XXIV of 1955, s. 6]

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 80

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.