Protected Forests.

(1) The 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 State Government has proprietary rights, or to the whole or any part of the forest produce of which the 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 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 State Government. 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. (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.