ORDER

Leave granted.

2. Heard learned counsel on both sides.

3. In this appeal, a limited notice was issued at the time of admission on 29.7.1998.

4. The appellant before us is the land holder. He was in possession of various extents of lands. Now we are concerned only with Survey Nos. 31, 32 and 33 in the village Versave in District Thane comprising various extents of lands in all roughly amounting to 20 hectares. The appellant field an application under Section 6 of the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975 which provides for settlement of disputes in relation to private forest land. Section 6 reads as under:

"Section 6 : Where any question arises as to whether or not any forest is a private forest, or whether or not any private forest or portion thereof has vested in the State Government or whether or not any dwelling house constructed in a forest stands acquired under this Act, the Collector shall decide the question, and the decision of the Collector shall, subject to the decision of the "Tribunal in appeal which may be preferred to the Tribunal within 60 days from the date of the decision of the Collector, or the order of the State Government under Section 18, be fin