Section 8 in Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971
8. Settlement of disputes.
(1)where any dispute arises as to whether -(a)any land is a private forest or not; or(b)any private forest or portion thereof has vested in the Government or not, the person who claims that the land is not a private forest or that the private forest has not vested in the Government, 3[may, within such period as may be prescribed, apply to the Tribunal] for decision of the dispute.(2)Any application under sub-section (1) shall be in such from as may be prescribed.(3)If the Tribunal decides that any land is not a private forest or that a private forest or portion there of has not vested in the Government and -(a)no appeal has been preferred against the decision of the Tribunal within the period specified there for; or(b)such appeal having been preferred has been dismissed by the High Court, the custodian shall, as soon as may be after the expiry of the period referred to in clause (a) or, as the case may be, after the date of the order of the High Court dismissing the appeal, restore possession of such land or private forest or portion, as the case may be, to the person in possession thereof immediately before the appointed day.
