(1) Every appeal under section 17 shall be made by petition in writing, and may be delivered to the Forest Settlement-officer, who shall forward it without delay to the authority competent to hear the same.

(2) If the appeal be to an officer appointed under section 17, it shall be heard in the manner prescribed for the time being for the hearing of appeals in matters relating to land-revenue.

(3) If the appeal be to the Forest Court, the Court shall fix a day and a convenient place in the neighbourhood of the proposed forest for hearing the appeal, and shall give notice thereof to the parties and shall hear such appeal accordingly.

(4) The order passed on the appeal by such officer or Court, or by the majority of the members of such Court, as the case may be, shall, subject only to revision by the 1[State Government], be final. STATE AMENDMENT Uttar Pradesh Substitution of new section for section 18.—For section 18 of the principal Act, the following shall be substituted, namely— “18. Appeal under section 17. —

(1) Every appeal under section 17 shall be made by or in writing and may be delivered to the Forest Settlement Officer, who shall forward it without delay to the District Judge.

(2) The District Judge may, after giving to the parties an opportunity of being heard, confirm, set aside or modify the order under appeal or remand the case to the Forest Settlement Officer with such direction as he thinks fit.

(3) During the pendency of the appeal the District Judge may, for sufficient cause, stay, on such terms, if any, as he thinks fit, the operation of the order appealed from and pass any incidental or consequential order.

(4) The order passed on the appeal shall, subject to the provisions of section 22, be final.” [Vide Uttar Pradesh Act XXIII of 1965, s. 6]