East Punjab Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1948
(1) The [State] Government may by notification appoint one or more persons to be Settlement Officers (Consolidation) and, by like notification, specify the area in which each such Officer shall have jurisdiction. The Consolidation Officers in the area under the jurisdiction of the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) shall be subordinate to him subject to any conditions which may be prescribed. [ (2) if no objections are received to the draft scheme published under sub-section (1) of section 19 [-] and also if no written or oral objections to [the draft scheme] are received under sub-section (3) by the Settlement Officer (Consolidation), he shall confirm the scheme. (3) If any objections are received to the draft scheme published under sub-section (1) of Section 19 [-] or if any written or oral objections are received by the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) before the confirmation of [the draft scheme] by him, the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) may after taking the objections into consideration together with the remarks thereon of the Consolidation Officer and also after considering the written or oral objections, either confirm the scheme with or without modifications, or refuse to confirm it. In case of such refusal, the Settlement Officer (Consolidation) shall return the draft scheme, with such directions as many be necessary, to the Consolidation Officer, for reconsideration and re-submission.] (4) Upon the confirmation of the scheme under sub-section (2) or (3) the scheme as confirmed shall be published in the prescribed manner in the estate or estates concerned.