Section 6 of IFA : Section 6: Proclamation By Forest Settlement-Officer

Explanation using Example

Let's consider a hypothetical situation where the government of India decides to declare a piece of land in the outskirts of a town in Madhya Pradesh as a protected forest area. According to Section 6 of The Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Forest Settlement-officer would have to issue a public notification in the local language, which could be Hindi in this case, in all nearby towns and villages.

This notification would need to:

• (a) Specify the location and boundaries of the proposed forest area, perhaps using local landmarks for clarity;
• (b) Explain what will happen once the area is officially declared a forest, such as restrictions on tree cutting, hunting, or land development;
• (c) Set a deadline, at least three months from the date of the proclamation, for anyone who believes they have a right to the land (for example, if they have been using it for grazing livestock) to submit a written notice to the Forest Settlement-officer detailing their claim and any compensation they believe they are owed.