(1)When any such statement is presented as aforesaid, the Divisional Forest Officer may, after making such inquiry as he thinks fit, either reject the claim after recording his reasons for so doing, or deliver the timber to the claimant.(2)If such timber is claimed by more than one person, the Divisional Forest Officer may either make an order declaring the person entitled to the timber and deliver the same to him or may refer the claimant to the Civil Court having jurisdiction and retain the timber pending the receipt of an order from any such Court for its disposal :Provided that no such delivery of timber shall be made under this sub-section until the expiry of a period of three months from the date of the order made by the Divisional Forest Officer.(3)Any person whose claim has been rejected under this section may, within three months from the date of such rejection, institute a suit to recover possession of the timber claimed by him, but no person shall be entitled to any compensation or costs against the State Government, or against any Forest Officer on account of such rejection, or the retention or removal of any timber, or the delivery thereof to any other person under this section.(4)No such timber shall be subject to any process of any Civil, Criminal or Revenue Court until it has been delivered, or a suit has been brought as provided in this section.
