law: Indian Forest Act, 1927
  7. 
  
  Inquiry by Forest Settlement-officer.  –
  The Forest Settlement-officer shall take down
  
  in writing all statements made under section 6, and shall at some convenient
  
  place inquire into all claims duly preferred under that section, and the
  
  existence of any rights mentioned in section 4 or section 5 and not claimed
  
  under section 6 so far as the same may be ascertainable from the records of
  
  Government and the evidence of any persons likely to be acquainted with the
  
  same.