Indian Forest Act, 1927
47.
Procedure on claim preferred to such timber. –
(1) When any such statement is presented as
aforesaid, the Forest-officer may, after making such inquiry as he thinks fit, either
reject the claim after according his reasons for so doing, or deliver the
timber to the claimant.
(2) If such timber is claimed by more than one
person, the Forest-officer may either deliver the same to any of such persons
who he deems entitled thereto, or may refer the claimants to the Civil Courts,
and retain the timber pending the receipt of an order from any such Court for
its disposal.
(3) Any person whose claim has been rejected
under this section may, within three months from the date of such rejection,
institute a suit to recover possession of the timber claimed by him; but no
person shall recover any compensation or costs against the Government, or
against any Forest-officer on account of such rejection, or the detention or
removal of any timber, or the delivery thereof to any other person under this
section.
(4) No such timber shall be subject to process
of any Civil, Criminal or Revenue Court until it has been delivered, or a suit
has been brought, as provided in this section.