(1) In case there exists a reasonable ground to believe that an offence punishable under this Act has been committed, a forest technical employee of at least non-gazetted second class or employee of assistant police inspector rank may search any place in accordance with the prevailing law.
Explanation: For the purpose of this Section, the term "place" means a permanent or temporary building or shed, and this term includes an empty land, tent, boat and any type of motor vehicle.
(2) The person conducting search pursuant to sub-section (1) shall search a place only upon giving a notice to that effect, setting out the reason, to the owner of the place to be searched or the person using the place for the time being before entering such place.
(3) In making search pursuant to sub-section (1), it shall be made in presence of at least one office-bearer or member of the concerned Local Level and at least two witnesses.
(4) In case the search of a residential house is to be made and if any woman is in that house, information and reasonable time shall be given to get herself out of the house.
(5) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as entitling the employee making search to enter into a residential house from the sun-set till the sun rise.