Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Within twelve months from the date on which this Act comes into force in the territories administered by any Local Government, such Government shall, after consideration of the rights of the Government and private persons in all forest-lands or waste-lands then under its executive control for purposes of forest-conservancy, determine which of such lands (if any) can, according to justice, equity and good conscience, be classed as reserved forests or protected forests under this Act, and declare, by notification in the local official Gazette, any lands so classed to be reserved or protected forests, as the case may be: Provided that such declaration shall not affect any rights of the Government or private persons to or over any land or forest-produce in any such forest, which have, previous to the date of such declaration, been enquired into, settled and recorded in a manner which the Local Government thinks sufficient: Provided also that if any such rights have not on such date been so enquired into, settled and recorded, the Local Government shall direct that the same shall be enquired into, settled and recorded in the manner provided by this Act for reserved or protected forests, as the case may be; and until such enquiry, settlement and record have been completed, no such declaration shall abridge or affect such rights.