Section 2 in The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2003
2. Definitions
.-In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:-(a)"Act" means the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (69 of 1980);(b)[ "Committee" means the Forest Advisory Committee constituted under section 3 of the Act;] [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 94 (E) dated 3.2.2004 (w.e.f. 10.1.2003)](ba)[ "Conservator of Forests" means an officer appointed by the State Government or the Union Territory Administration, as the case may be, under the designation of Conservator of Forests or the Chief Conservator of Forests or the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests or any such similar designation, to hold charge of a Forest Circle having jurisdiction over the forest land for which the approval of the Central Government under the Act is required;] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 185(E), dated 14.3.2014 (w.e.f. 10.1.2003).](c)"Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Committee;(ca)[ "Divisional Forest Officer" means an officer appointed by the State Government or the Union territory Administration, as the case may be, under the designation of the Divisional Forest Officer or the Deputy Conservator of Forests or any such similar designation, to hold charge of a Forest Division having jurisdiction over the forest land for which the approval of the Central Government under the Act is required;] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 185(E), dated 14.3.2014 (w.e.f. 10.1.2003).](caa)[ "District Collector" means an officer appointed by the State Government or the Union territory Administration, as the case may be, under the designation of District Collector or Deputy Commissioner or any such similar designation, to hold charge of the administration of the revenue district having jurisdiction over the forest land for which the approval of the Central Government under the Act is required.] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 200(E), dated 6.3.2017 (w.e.f. 10.1.2003).](cb)[ "Chairperson of the Regional Empowered Committee" means chairperson of each of the Regional Empowered Committees constituted under rule 4A; [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 185(E), dated 14.3.2014 (w.e.f. 10.1.2003).](cc)"Head of the Regional Office" means senior-most officer in the rank of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests or Chief Conservator of Forests appointed by the Central Government at Regional Office to deal with the forest conservation matters under the Act;(cd)"linear projects" means projects involving linear diversion of forest land for purposes such as roads, railways lines, pipelines, transmission lines, etc.](d)"Member" means a member of the Committee;(e)"Nodal Officer" means any officer not below the rank of Conservator of Forests, authorised by the State Government to deal with the forest conservation matters under the Act;(f)"Regional Office" means a Regional Office of the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests established as part of the Ministry to deal with the forest conservation matters under the Act;(g)"Section" means a section of the Act;(h)"User Agency" means any person, organisation or Company or Department of the Central or State Government making a request for diversion or de-notification of forest land for non-forest purpose or using forest land for non-forest purpose in accordance with the permission granted by the Central Government under the Act or the rules.
