WP(C) 5977/2011 BEFORE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. GOSWAMI Heard Mr. A.M. Barbhuiya, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. V.L . Sinha, learned Additional Senior Government Advocate, Assam. Having regard to the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties, this case is taken up for final disposal at the stage of motion hearing itself. By this application, the petitioner prays for grant of zimma in res pect of a truck bearing registration No. NL-06A-2528 belon ging to the petitioner, which was seized alongwith 341 pieces of timber u/s 49(1 ) of Assam Forest Regulation, 1891 as amended in 1995, for short, the Regulatio n, having committed offences u/s 40/49(1) of the Regulation read with Section 37 9 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. It is submitted by Mr. Barbhuiya that the petitioner had submitted an application before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, praying for zimma o f the aforesaid truck, which, however, came to be dismissed by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate by an order dated 6.6.2011 on the ground that the forest au thority had only the power to deal with the seized vehicle u/s 49 of the Regulat ion. The criminal revision petition being Criminal Revision Petition No. 29/2011 filed before the learned Sessions Judge, Hailakandi was also dismissed by an or der dated 8.7.2011. It is submitted by Mr. Barbhuiya that he had filed an applic ation before the respondent No. 3, Divisional Forest Officer, Hailakandi, prayin g for the zimma of the said vehicle. He had filed another application dated 30.9 .2011 on the same subject matter. He submits that these applications praying for release of the vehicle in question, on zimma, have not been considered by the r espondent no. 3. Ms. V.L. Sinha, the learned State counsel, by drawing attention of this Court to the letter dated 15.9.2011 (Annexure-8) points out that a confisc ation proceeding has already been initiated by the Divisional Forest Officer, wh o is also the Authorised Officer, and, therefore, the Authorised Officer may b e directed to dispose of the confiscation proceeding within a specific time fram e. Mr. Barbhuiya submits that he does not have any objection to the submission of the learned State counsel. He, however, urges this Court to direct the respondent No. 3 to also consider and dispose of the applications dated 21. 6.2011 and 30.9.2011(Annexures -9 &10) praying for release of the vehicle No. NL -06A-2528 on zimma. In view of the aforesaid submissions of the learned counsel for t he parties, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent No. 3 to complete the confiscation proceeding in question within a period of th ree months from today. It is further directed that the respondent No. 3 shall al so consider and dispose of the applications dated 21.6.2011 and 30.9.2011 in acc ordance with law within a period of 3 weeks from today. Writ petition stands disposed of.