Hearing of objections

(1) The Collector shall in the prescribed manner hear any objection presented under clause (c) of section 20 and shall pass an order- (a) dismissing such objection, or (b) directing that the proposal to constitute the said area a Controlled Forest shall be dropped either in respect of the whole of the said area or in respect of a part of it to be specified in the order. (2) Any landlord who is aggrieved by an order passed by the Collector under sub-section (1) or any Forest Officer or other person generally or specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf, may file a revision application to the State Government whose orders shall be final. (3) If no objection is presented under clause (c) of section 20 or if such objection is presented and is finally disposed of under the provisions of this section, the State Government may, where it considers that any area included in the notification issued under section 20, should be constituted a Controlled Forest, issue a notification- (a) declaring that it has been decided to constitute such area a Controlled Forest; (b) specifying as nearly as possible the situation and limit of that area; and (c) appointing a Forest Settlement Officer to enquire into and determine the existence, nature and extent of any rights other than landlord's rights alleged to exist in favour of any person in or over any area comprised within such limits, or in or over any forest produce and to deal with the same as provided in this chapter. (4) The Forest Settlement Officer appointed under clause (c) of sub-section (3) shall, in the prescribed manner, give an opportunity to the landlord to be heard in the enquiry referred to in that clause.