Section 53. Formation of State forests from excess waste land.

When in the opinion of a Settlement Officer or any Assistant Collector of the first class empowered in this behalf by a general or special order of the Government, the waste land included in or adjoining an estate is so extensive as to exceed the reasonable requirements of the land holders of the estate with reference to past usage or extension of cultivation or otherwise, the Settlement Officer or such Assistant Collector may at any time cause the excess area to be demarcated as a State forest in accordance with the Forest Demarcation Rules in force, at the time, on such conditions, as to payment of compensation or otherwise, as the Government may direct : Provided that no compensation shall he payable to any person solely on account of the formation of a State forest from waste land owned by the 1[Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir].