According to Section 6(1) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both.

Key points regarding the process:

1. Initiation: The Gram Sabha receives and processes claims for forest rights, prepares maps of the claimed areas, and passes a resolution.
2. Verification: This resolution is then screened by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC).
3. Final Approval: The District Level Committee (DLC) is the final authority that approves the record of forest rights.

While the Forest Department and Revenue officials are part of the committees at the sub-divisional and district levels, the power to initiate the process rests solely with the Gram Sabha.