(1)The Collector shall in the prescribed manner hear any objection presented under clause (c) of Section 14 and shall pass an order-(a)dismissing such objection, or(b)directing that the proposal to constitute the said forest a private protected forest shall be dropped either in respect of the whole of the said forest or in respect of a part of it to be specified in the order.(2)Any landlord who is aggrieved by an order passed by the Collector under sub-section (1) or any Forest Officer or other person generally or specially empowered by the [State] [Substituted by A.L.O.] Government in this behalf may present an appeal to the Commissioner within the prescribed period and the order passed on such appeal by the Commissioner shall, subject only to revision by the authority appointed by the [State] [Substituted by A.L.O.] Government in that behalf, be final.(3)If no objection is presented under clause (c) of [sub-section (1) of Section 14] [Inserted by Bihar Act 1 of 1950.] or if such objection, is presented and is finally disposed of under the provision of this section, the [State] [Substituted by A.L.O.] Government may, where it considers that any area included in the notification issued under Section 14 should be constituted a private protected forest, issue a notification-(a)declaring that it has been decided to constitute such area a private protected forest;(b)specifying as nearly as possible the situation and limits of that area; and(c)appointing an officer (hereinafter called the "Forest Settlement Officer") to inquire into and determine the existence, nature and extent of any rights other than landlords' rights alleged to exist in favour of any person in or over any land comprised within such limits, or in or over any forest produce and to deal with the same as provided in this Chapter.(4)The officer appointed under clause (c) of sub-section (3) shall ordinarily be a person not holding any forest office except that Forest Settlement Officer and shall, in the prescribed manner, give an opportunity to the landlord to be heard in the inquiry referred to in that clause.(5)Nothing in sub-sections (3) and (4) shall prevent the [State] [Substituted by A.L.O.] Government from appointing any number of officers not exceeding three, nor more than one of whom shall be a person holding any forest office, except as aforesaid, to perform the duties of a Forest Settlement Officer under this Act.
