law: Indian Forest Act, 1927
  47. 
  
  Procedure on claim preferred to such timber.  –
  (1) When any such statement is presented as
  
  aforesaid, the Forest-officer may, after making such inquiry as he thinks fit, either
  
  reject the claim after according his reasons for so doing, or deliver the
  
  timber to the claimant.
  (2) If such timber is claimed by more than one
  
  person, the Forest-officer may either deliver the same to any of such persons
  
  who he deems entitled thereto, or may refer the claimants to the Civil Courts,
  
  and retain the timber pending the receipt of an order from any such Court for
  
  its disposal.
  (3) Any person whose claim has been rejected
  
  under this section may, within three months from the date of such rejection,
  
  institute a suit to recover possession of the timber claimed by him; but no
  
  person shall recover any compensation or costs against the Government, or
  
  against any Forest-officer on account of such rejection, or the detention or
  
  removal of any timber, or the delivery thereof to any other person under this
  
  section.
  (4) No such timber shall be subject to process
  
  of any Civil, Criminal or Revenue Court until it has been delivered, or a suit
  
  has been brought, as provided in this section.