(1) The 1 [State Government] may, by notification in the Rajasthan Gazette, declare the provisions of this chapter applicable to any forest land or waste land which is not included in a reserved forest, but which is the property of [State Government], or over which the 1 [State Government] has proprietary rights, or to the whole or any part of the forest produce of which the 1 [State Government] is entitled.
(2) The forest land and waste land comprised in any such notification shall be called a "Protected Forest".
(3) No such notification shall be made unless the nature and extent of the rights of [State Government] and of private persons in or over the forest land or waste land comprised therein have been inquired into and recorded at a survey or settlement or in such other manner as the 1 [State Government] thinks sufficient. Every such record shall be presumed to be correct until the contrary is proved:
Provided that, if, in the case of any forest land or waste land, the [State Government] thinks that such inquiry and record are necessary but that they will occupy such length of time as in the meantime to endanger the rights of 1 [State Government].
1 [State Government] may pending such inquiry and record, declare such land to be a protected forest, but so as not to abridge or affect any existing rights of individual or communities.
2 [(4) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that from a date fixed by such notification, any forest or any portion thereof declared as a protected forest by a notification issued under subjection (1) shall cease to be a protected forest.
(5) From the date so fixed under sub-section (4), such forest or portion thereof shall cease to be a protected forest, but the rights, if any, which have been extinguished therein shall not revive in consequence of such cessation.]