- The Forest Settlement Officer shall take down in writing all statements made under Section 16 and shall at some convenient place inquire into all claims duly preferred under that section and the existence of any right mentioned in sub-section (3) of Section 15 other than landlord's rights and not claimed under Section 16 so far as the same may be ascertainable from the records of Government and the evidence of any person likely to be acquainted with the same.
