Section Text
(1) The1[ State Government ] may, by notification in the2[ Official 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 Government, or over ] , 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 Government, or over which the Government has proprietary rights, or to the whole or any part of the forest-produce of which the Government is entitled.
(2) The forest-land and waste-lands 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 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 the1[ 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, the1[ 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 Government, the1[ 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 individuals or communities.
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1. Substituted by the A.O. 1950, for "Provincial Government".
2. Substituted by the A.O. 1937, for "Local Official Gazette".