23. Power to acquire land over which right is claimed.
(1)In the case of a claim to right in or over any land, other than a right-of-way or right of pasture, or a right to forest-produce or a water course, the Forest Settlement Officer shall pass an order admitting or rejecting the same in whole or in part.(2)If such claim is admitted in whole or in part, the Forest Settlement Officer shall either-(i)exclude such land from the limits of the proposed forest; or(ii)come to an agreement with the owner thereof for the surrender of his rights; or(iii)proceed to acquire such land in the manner provided by the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894).(3)For the purpose of so acquiring such land-(a)the Forest Settlement Officer shall be deemed to be a Collector proceeding under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894);(b)the claimant shall be deemed to be a person interested and appearing before him in pursuance of a notice given under Section 9 of that Act;(c)the provisions of the preceding sections of that Act shall be deemed to have been complied with; and(d)the Collector, with the consent of the claimant, or the Court, with the consent of both parties, may award compensation in land, or partly in land and partly in money.
