Notification by Government

Whenever it is proposed to consti- tute any land a Reserved Forest, the Government shall publish a notifi- cation in the Gazette- (a) specifying as nearly as possible, the situation and limits of such land; (b) declaring that it is proposed to constitute such land a Reserved Forest; (c) appointing an officer (hereinafter called the Forest Settlement Officer) to inquire in to and determine the existence, nature and extent of any nghts claimed by, or alleged to exist in favour of, any person in or over any land compnsed Within such limits, or to any forest produce of such land, and to deal with the same as provided in this Act. The officer appointed under dame (c) of this section shall ordina· rily be a peison other than a Forest 0 ficer; but a Fore~t Officer may be appomted by the Government to attend, on behalf of the Govern· ment, at the mquiry prescribed by this Chapter.