(1) Whenever it has been decided to constitute any land a reserved forest, the 1 [State Government] shall issue a Notification in the 1 [Official Gazette]-
(a) declaring that it has been decided to constitute such land a reserved forest;
(b) specifying as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of such land; and
(c) appointing an officer (hereinafter called „the Forest Settlement Officer‟) to enquire into and determine the existence, nature and extent of any rights 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 provided in this Chapter.
Explanation: -For the purpose of clause (b), it shall be sufficient to describe the limits of the forest by roans, rivers, ridges or other well-known or readily intelligible boundaries.
(2) The officer appointed under clause (c) of subjection (1) shall ordinarily be a person not holding any forest office except that of Forest Settlement Officer.
(3) Nothing in this Section shall prevent the 1 [State Government] from appointing any number of Officer not exceeding three, not more than one of whom shall be a person holding any forest office except as aforesaid, to perform the duties of a Forest Settlement Officer under this Act.