(1) Whenever it is proposed to constitute any land a reserved forest, the State Government shall issue a notification in the Official Gazette:
(a) declaring that it is proposed to constitute such land, a reserve forest;
(b) specifying, as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of such lands; and
(c) appointing an officer (hereinafter called “The Forest Settlement Officer”) to inquire into and determine the existence’, nature and extend of any rights or privileges alleged to exist in favour of any person in or over any land comprised within such limits, or in or over any forest produce, and to deal with the same as provided in this Chapter.
Explanation :– For the purpose of Clause (b), it shall be sufficient to describe the limits of the forest by roads, rivers, bridges or other well known or readily intelligible boundaries.
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(2) The Officer appointed under Clause (c) of Sub-Sec. (1) shall ordinarily be a person not holding any forest office except that of a Forest Settlement Officer.
(3) The Divisional Forest Officer not below the rank of a Range Officer authorised by him in that behalf, may represent the Forest Department at the enquiry conducted under this Chapter.