Section 17 in Sikkim Forests, Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act, 1988
17.
(1)When the following events have occurred, namely:(a)the period fixed under section 6 for preferring claim has elapsed, and all claims, if any made under that section or section 9 have been disposed of by the Forest Settlement Officer;(b)if any such claims has been made, the period specified in section 14 for appeal from the order passed on such claims has elapsed, and all appeals, if any, presented within such period have been disposed of by the Appellate Authority, and(c)all lands, if any, to be included in the proposed forest, which the Forest Settlement Officer has, under section 11 acquired under the Sikkim Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1977 have become vested in the Government.The Government shall publish a notification specifying therein the definite boundary marks erected or otherwise the limits of the forest which is to be reserved and declaring the same to be reserved forest from a date fixed in the said notification.(2)The notification issued under sub-section (1) shall be published in the villages and town in the neighborhood of the reserved forest in the language commonly understood in the area.
