Section 18. Hearing of objections

18. (1) The Collector shall in the prescribed manner hear any objection presented under clause (c) of Section 17 and shall pass an order- (a) dismissing such objection, or (b) directing that the proposal to constitute the said area a vested forest shall be dropped either in respect of the whole of the said area or in respect of a part of it to be specified in the order. (2) Any landlord who is aggrieved by an order passed by the Collector under sub-section (1) or any Forest Officer or other person generally or specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf may file a revision application to the State Government whose orders would be final. (3) If no objection is presented under clause (c) of Section 17 or if such objection is presented and is finally disposed of under the provisions of this section, the State Government may, where it considers that any area included in the notification issued under Section 17 should be constituted a vested forest issue a notification- (a) declaring that it has been decided to constitute such area a vested forest; (b) specifying as nearly as possible the situation and limits of that area; and (c) appointing a "Forest Settlement Officer" to inquire into and determine the existence, nature and extent of any rights other than landlord's rights alleged to exist in favour of any person in or over any area comprised within such limits, or in or over any forest produce and to deal with the same as provided in this Chapter. (4) The Forest Settlement Officer appointed under clause (c) of subsection (3) shall, in the prescribed manner, give an opportunity to the landlord to be heard in the inquiry referred to in that clause